Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended Gareth Bale skipping last week's title celebrations.

When Los Blancos celebrated the LaLiga Santander title and their Champions League comeback against Manchester City, Bale was nowhere to be seen, so the coach was asked if the forward is distant from the rest of the squad.

"He wasn't there because he couldn't move, not because he is distant," Ancelotti replied in his Saturday press conference.

"All the players care about Bale and he cares about them, but he wasn't there because he couldn't be there.

"He had a back problem and it's difficult to move when that happens. I know. It has happened to me."