Bale looking forward to Supercup return ‘home’ to Cardiff

Madrid, Aug 8 (IANS) Real Madrid’s Welsh star, Gareth Bale is looking forward to returning ‘home’ next week when his side take on Sevilla in the European Supercup.

The game between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League will be held in Bale’s hometown of Cardiff Aug 12 and Bale, who joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspurs a year ago will surely have plenty of support in the stands, reports Xinhua.

“All of my family and friends will be there, it is very special for me to play in Cardiff,” said the Welsh international in an interview with Spanish brewery, Mahou Thursday night.

“I knew the final would be played there 18 months ago and when I came to Madrid it was one of my hopes to win the Champions League and to play in Cardiff, so it is going to be very emotional for me,” he said.

Wales’ failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup finals has had positive results for Bale, who has been able to enjoy a full pre-season after last summer saw his preparations interrupted by injury and his drawn out move to Madrid.

He has been their best player in a so-far disappointing pre-season which has seen Real Madrid lose all three preparation games in the US, all be it without the presence of several of their most important players, who were still on holiday after playing in Brazil.

Sevilla, meanwhile, have enjoyed a quiet summer as coach Unai Emery has worked with a squad which improved over the past season.

“I’d love us to win 5-0 but you have to score the goals,” said Bale, who is expected a tough game.

“I don’t care who scores, it is a question of playing like a team. If we do that we can beat anyone, but we have to work hard and work together,” he concluded.