"No Atlético de Madrid player would start for Real Madrid" - Bale

Gareth Bale visited Cadena COPE yesterday and had some words to say about Atlético de Madrid. When asked about whether the Atleti players could make Real Madrid's starting XI, Bale quickly said "no."

This is not as controversial as it seems, and while Atlético de Madrid certainly have some quality players that carried them to the Champions League Final, Bale would be diminishing his own teammates if he says, for instance, that goalkeeper Jan Oblak could be starting for Real Madrid.

There's no doubt that Oblak himself, Griezmann or Koke would all compete for a starting spot in Real Madrid, but Bale was just protecting his own teammates and while he surely hurt Atlético's feelings in the process, it's better to have it that way rather than publicly underestimate the players that will feature at your side when things matter most next Saturday in Milan.

Expect more words on this matter when Zidane and two Real Madrid players speak before the media on Friday.