Gareth Bale says he felt relieved after he and the rest of Wales national team tested negative for COVID-19 because he had very close contact with the Republic of Ireland and Tottenham star Matt Doherty who tested positive for the virus during the week.
Gareth Bale led Wales to secure a 1-0 victory from the Republic of Ireland on Sunday in a UEFA Nations League Group B4 match. After the match, Bale decided to go and give his Tottenham’s teammate Doherty a hug. The next day, Doherty was confirmed positive for coronavirus.
This, according to Bale, made him so wary that he must have contracted the virus from the Irish right-back who tested positive alongside his Irish teammate James McClean.
“It’s a slight concern for everybody when you’ve been playing someone and you’re in close contact with them on the field,” Bale said.
“Maybe you’re not long enough with them to catch it, but you’re a bit wary.
“It’s good news that everyone’s come back and tested negative and now we can just concentrate on the game on Wednesday.”
Bale who had a terrible 2019-2020 season at Real Madrid before he had to return on loan to Tottenham Hotspur which he left in 2013, would have missed Wales’s most important match in the Nations League campaign if he had tested positive for the virus.
The coach of Tottenham Hotspur Jose Mourinho would not have had the opportunity to select him on November 21 when the club host Manchester City at the Tottenham stadium for their 9th Premier League game of the season. Mourinho would have been without Bale just like how he will be without Matt Doherty. A win in the match could take the Spurs to the top of the league table with 20 points.
Meanwhile, Wales has been exhibiting great form despite being without their head coach, Ryan Giggs who is battling with a physical assault scandal involving him and his girlfriend Kate Greville. The team is on the verge of gaining promotion to league one of UEFA Nations League.
FT | 🏴 1-0 🇮🇪
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 15, 2020
It's now 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ minutes since we conceded a competitive goal. #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/I0ubvX3b9l
All Bale and his Welsh teammates have to do when they play their final Nations League match against Finland today, November 18, is to ensure that they get at least a draw against Finland and they will finish top of the group with 14 points.
Wales is currently topping the group with 13 points after winning 4 matches and drawing a match in 5 Nations League games. Their opponent in tonight’s match is second with 12 points in 5 games.
With this stiff competition in the group, Bale is glad that none of his teammates tested positive ahead of Wales match against Finland which means that the team is hundred percent intact ahead of the match.
“The FAW (Football Association of Wales) are doing a fantastic job keeping to all the protocols. They are making sure we are doing everything right in the hotel and no one is doing anything waining.
“They’ve done fantastic with that and we’re obviously glad that none of us have tested positive.”
