Alvaro Arbeloa has jumped to the defence of Real Madrid team mate Gareth Bale after he was criticised this week and jeered by some fans for being too selfish.
The Welshman scored a stunning free kick against Espanyol on Real’s 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, but was still jeered by small sections of the home crowd when at one point in the match he opted to shoot rather than pass to Ronaldo, with the Portuguese showing his displeasure.
Speaking to reporters after the game, former Liverpool man Arbeloa, who himself grabbed an assist – providing the pass for Nacho to score the third goal – said all players make mistakes and the Bale had put in a superb performance against the Catalan outfit.
“The fans here are demanding and if you make a mistake, they let you know about it, but Bale cannot be blamed for anything today. He scored an amazing goal and he may have made a few mistakes, but he is a player you have to show affection for and the fans know how to appreciate him,” he stated.
Talking about footballing matters, Arbeloa said the players are determined to put things right against Atletico de Madrid in the Copa del Rey as they seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
“The game on Thursday is really important. We really want to do it, we want to answer back, and give everything we can to get another comeback. We know that the fans are crucial if we want to do it. Undoubtedly, they will be great as always on Thursday.”
