Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted he would be relying on Gareth Bale late in the season despite leaving the attacker on the bench against Bayern Munich.
Bale was an unused substitute as Madrid recorded a 2-1 win over Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The Wales international has made just five appearances – three of those starts – in Europe's premier club competition this season.
But Zidane said Bale still had a role to play late in the season for Madrid, although there has been plenty of speculation over the 28-year-old's future.
"I have to make choices and I've got some very good players in the squad," he told a news conference.
"There are some players who are performing well at the moment.
"There are still more games to come and I'll be relying on him. It's not true that I don't play him."
Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa's routes to the Champions League final
'I don’t get any respect. I’m not going to kiss someone’s ass to be loved - what is the problem with wanting to win prizes? If someone else does that, there is no problem' Romelu Lukaku laments media treatment during Premier League days
