Ryan Giggs has given Gareth Bale some tips on how to end his injury troubles.
Bale has been plagued by injuries over the last couple of seasons. The Real Madrid forward has picked up over 11 different injuries during his time in the Spanish capital, suffering several calf injuries and experiencing trouble with his hamstrings. For a player who relies on explosive power, and who turns 29 in July, such injuries are a concern for Bale, and for the new Wales manager.
According to The Times, Giggs has offered two suggestions to help Bale stay injury-free.
- Drive with a customised seat in his car and stick to using one car only.
- Cut back on his time playing golf
Bale is a keen golfer and seems to prefer the sport over football. “I don’t really watch much football, I’d rather watch the golf, to be honest,” he said earlier this year when asked about Paris Saint-Germain in a press conference. The former Tottenham forward has had three famous golf holes recreated on his property in Wales – the 17th at Sawgrass, the eighth at Royal Troon and the 12th at Augusta.
The Welsh national team were in China last week for the China Cup, where they beat the hosts 6-0 in Giggs’ first game as manager and lost 1-0 to Uruguay in the final. According to The Times’ report, Bale and some of his Welsh teammates had organised a round of golf during their time in the country, but it was cancelled by Giggs.
The new Wales boss is reportedly concerned that swinging golf clubs could put a strain on Bale’s body and cause more muscle injuries. He is also understood to have told him that the seat in his car could lead to injuries. Giggs advised his player to only drive one car, and to customise his seat to suit his body. Giggs told Bale that switching cars, and using different clutch pedals, could put unnecessary stress on his hamstrings, and he experienced this during his own playing career.
Bale would probably be wise to follow Giggs’ advice. The former Manchester United winger retired when he was 40 and won every trophy possible across a 24-year career at Old Trafford. After suffering hamstring injuries in his 20s, Giggs took up yoga and became very conscious of fitness and remained at the top level of the sport for his entire career.
The Times’ report also claims that Giggs has banned the Wales players from baseball caps while on international duty and is insisting that they arrive early and dressed smartly for team meals and meetings.
