Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended his management of Gareth Bale and had a pop at Wales boss Chris Coleman. Bale has struggled to light the blue touch paper at Real since his arrival from Tottenham.
"It's true that in the last few games he has not done anything extra-ordinary but he is a player who needs time to adapt," said the Italian coach who now needs to decide if he gives Bale his second consecutive start for the first time this season against Sevilla tonight.
Ancelotti again pinpointed the fact that Bale did not have a pre-season as the reason for his slow start and repeated his criticism of Wales manager Coleman when he said: "He said I was crazy to play Bale but it was him who gave him his first minutes this season."
Former Real Madrid GM Jorge Valdano also said of Bale: "We are very impatient with players.
"And especially so when the team are six points behind Barcelona.
"Bale is a player who relies on this incredible pace and power and he has also not been helped by having three months on the sidelines in the summer."
