Gareth Bale is happy at Real Madrid – Carlo Ancelotti

Andy West 14:26 13/05/2015
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  • Squad is united: Carlo Ancelotti.

    Carlo Ancelotti has blasted suggestions that Gareth Bale is unhappy at Real Madrid and backed the Welshman to bounce back from his ineffective first-leg performance against Juventus in tonight’s decisive encounter at the Bernabeu.

    Bale drew widespread and fierce criticism for his showing in Turin, which saw him make fewer passes than any other player and contribute very little to his team’s cause in their 2-1 defeat against the Italian champions.

    The Welsh winger’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, subsequently responded to the criticism by declaring that Bale would play better if his team-mates passed him the ball more regularly, hinting at a division between the former Tottenham man and Madrid’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

    But Ancelotti has dismissed those comments and attempted to project an air of harmony in a withering attack on Barnett, blasting: “I didn’t understand what his agent said, but we’re used to people talking too much.

    “Bale’s agent has never seen a Real Madrid training session, he’s talking from the outside and it would have been better if he had not said anything.”

    Although Bale has not personally moved to distance himself from his agent’s comments, Ancelotti added: “I’ve spoken to him many times and he’s delighted to be here.

    “Bale has never had any problems with his team-mates, nor his team-mates with him. There is one word too many perhaps from outside.”

    After seeing him score in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals last season, Ancelotti is also confident that Bale will regain his knack of finding the net on big occasions, adding: “He has had a good season.

    “Last year he scored at important times and it’s possible that this season he’ll have the chance to do the same.”

    Bale and Ronaldo are certain starters tonight but the identity of the third forward alongside them remains uncertain, with Karim Benzema perhaps set to be held back to the bench despite recovering from a knee injury.

    Ancelotti is concerned that Benzema will lack match sharpness after a month on the sidelines, saying: “He has recovered well but he hasn’t played for a month. That is the doubt for me.

    “I don’t know whether to field him from the start or from the bench, because in the second half the tempo of the game will be lower.

    “Chicharito brings us penetration and keeps the opposition backline on its toes, while Benzema makes the whole team play better.

    “With him, we can play a higher-quality attacking game because he makes the others play better.”

    At the other end of the field, Ancelotti expressed his frustration with Madrid fans who jeered Iker Casillas during Saturday’s draw with Valencia, which has effectively ended their La Liga title chances.

    The veteran goalkeeper was filmed by television cameras mouthing an obscenity towards the crowd in response to the whistles he was receiving, and an irritated Ancelotti said: “There are times when I understand whistling when you don’t play well or make mistakes, but there are other times when it’s incomprehensible.

    “Casillas has a lot of experience and this isn’t going to affect him, but motivate him more. He has the confidence of his coach, his team-mates and the club.

    “I think the atmosphere will be different for this game because the fans understand the importance of the game. All Madridistas will be together.”

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