Wales boss Chris Coleman has echoed the thoughts of Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett by claiming the Real Madrid players don’t pass to the Welshman.
The Los Blancos forward was criticised on numerous occasions this season for some perceived poor performances. On a couple of times, Madrid ‘fans’ even took it upon themselves to wait at the club’s Valdebebas training ground to hurl abuse at Bale.
The 91-million-euro signing finished the campaign with 17 goals in all competitions and 10 assists, similar figures to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard – a player many Madrid supporters would like to see at the club.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the upcoming internationals, Coleman, who was in charge briefly at Real Sociedad earlier in his management career, said Bale was actually getting into good positions but was being overlooked by his team mates.
“He was heavily criticised after that first leg [against Juventus in the Champions League] but I am seeing him in great positions and not receiving the ball from certain players. My assistant Osian called me up and I told him ‘I know what you are going to say, they are not giving him the ball’,” Coleman said.
He continued: “It wasn’t Carlo Ancelotti’s fault, it is down to the players on the pitch and it looked to me like he was being overlooked. You can only do what you do best. With us when he is good positions we make sure we give it to him, in Madrid I did not see that and it was not because he was not working hard.
“I am not saying it was just Ronaldo, but offensively I look at Madrid and wonder why he is not getting the ball. That Madrid team towards the end of the season looked disjointed and did not seem to have that togetherness, and Gareth has suffered for that.”
