Gareth Bale and Loris Karius will always be inexorably linked after last season's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. Now Bale has opened up about what he said to the goalkeeper after the final whistle.
The 2018 Champions League final will be best remembered for two things, Gareth Bale's incredible first goal that gave Real a 2-1 lead and Loris Karius' mistake to hand Bale his second of the game and a 3-1 lead to the Spaniards.
Bale was a substitute in the final. Karius had made a mistake to hand Los Blancos a 1-0 lead as he threw the ball at Karim Benzema in the box. Sadio Mane would soon have them level before Bale came on.
A cross from Marcelo into the box was behind the Welshman and he jumped in the air and scored a ridiculous overhead kick that might be the best goal scored in a Champions League final, no stopping that for Karius.
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The keeper though embarrassed himself late on as Bale's long range shot was straight at him but he punched it into his own net, leaving him devastated on the ground. At full time Bale went to console him and now the former Spurs winger has revealed to the Daily Mail what he said to Karius:
"I always try to put a bit of wobble on the ball. It's the same with free-kicks.
"You try to make it more difficult because if it doesn't go in the corner I always give them a problem if it's right down their throat.
"I just said, 'Keep your head up'. Mistakes happen. It's just unfortunate it's in a final.
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"Yes, I suppose it's not quite as bad as it looked but I suppose he should save it."
Bale also described the feeling of scoring the first goal, adding, "As soon as I hit it I knew it was good. The fall to the turf was light. 'No, you don't feel it!"
"It was quite a weird silence for a split second. Then everything erupted. I remember Marcelo and Toni Kroos running because I could see them coming and then everyone piled on."
Bale spoke after the final about potentially leaving the 13 times European champions but the departures of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo ensured he stayed.
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Karius didn't stay at Anfield though, leaving for Besiktas on a two year loan.
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