Zinedine Zidane has backed "important player" Gareth Bale to play a key role in Real Madrid's bid for a first LaLiga title since 2017.
Zidane recalled Bale to the starting XI for Sunday's 4-1 victory over Osasuna, and the former Tottenham attacker played for 71 minutes.
Bale helped set up Isco's first-half equaliser as Real wrestled back from a goal down to seal a convincing 4-1 victory thanks to further goals from Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Jovic.
Bale has largely had a bit-part role this season with injuries affecting him and constant talk of a strained relationship with his head coach.
"He is an important player," Zidane told a press conference. "He has done 65 good minutes offensively and defensively, he has tried and he is an important player.
"The problem is that they want us to have a problem with Gareth, but we do not have one.
"There are many players, it is not easy to manage all that, but in the end he is a very important player and little by little he will continue playing like the others."
Additional reporting by PA
