The Italian believes the winger needs time to adapt
to Spanish football and has urged supporters to
not put pressure on the world's most expensive
player
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admits that the club
have yet to see the best of Gareth Bale, but called for
fans to be patient with the winger.
The Welshman joined the Spanish club from Tottenham
in a world record €100million deal in September, but
he has failed to set the Primera Division alight since his
record-breaking move.
The 24-year-old has been plagued by niggling injuries
since moving to the Bernabeu, with a persistent thigh
problem limiting him to six appearances in all
competitions so far.
His latest outing came in Real's disappointing 2-1 defeat
to rivals Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season on
Saturday, a match in which Bale didn’t really have an
impact.
But while Ancelotti is aware that his new signing has yet
to show his undoubted potential in Spain, he says that it
will take time for the player to become accustomed to
his new surroundings.
"Gareth Bale hasn't played extremely well, but a player
of his calibre needs time to adapt," the coach told
Spanish radio station Cadena COPE .
"The problem the player has is of adaptation. It's not
the same to play in Spain as in England.”
Ancelotti also dismissed talk suggesting that he had
picked Bale ahead of Karim Benzema because of the
Welshman’s transfer fee.
“Did I play Bale for his price tag? For me, Bale is a
player like any other. I think he was a good signing for
Real Madrid.
“Bale played because in my opinion he could play and
create problems for Barcelona, only for this. I didn’t
start with Benzema because I did not want the opposing
defence to have a clear point of reference.
“Therefore, Bale started on the left and could change
position with Di Maria.”
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