Bale very happy to keep it Real, insists Ancelotti

ON THE eve of their Champions League second leg semi-final at home to Juventus, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted Gareth Bale has no intention of leaving, amid suggestions the Wales international is frustrated by how things are going for him at the Spanish giants.

Bale has come under fire from sections of the media and also the Real f ans f or some of his performances this season, including in the wake of last week’s first leg defeat to Juventus.

As increased speculation links Bale with a summer move — Manchester United being heavily touted — the world-record signing’s desire to continue in Spain is being questioned.

However, Ancelotti, who oversaw Bale’s first season at Madrid culminating in a 10th Champions League crown for the club, insists there is no issue.

At his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti said: ‘I spoke with him (Bale) a lot of times. He is really happy to stay here.

‘Bale has no problem with his colleagues. His colleagues have no problem with him. They like Gareth Bale and he likes his colleagues. There is one word too many perhaps from outside.’

As if to prove Ancelotti’s point, Bale’s team-mate James Rodriguez added at the same press conference: ‘We all want to play with him. Cristiano, Chicarito... we’re all a team and we have to be united. You can’t speculate on what is said outside. We all have to be focused.’

Bale has been a regular in the Real side this season, although he last scored for them back in early April in the 9-1 win over Granada. Ancelotti, who will hope Madrid can overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Juventus, said of the £85million man: ‘I think Bale’s played a very good season. Last year he scored in important games and scored in all the finals. With any luck he could do same this year.’

Meanwhile, veteran Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been backed to take motivation from fans’ jeers tonight.

Sections of the Santiago Bernabeu support appeared to be unhappy with the 33-year- old’s role during Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Valencia, where Real needed two goals in the second half to earn a point.

Indeed, it was the third straight time Madrid had conceded two in a game, following a 3-2 win over Sevilla and the 2-1 loss to Juventus in the semi-final first leg in Turin.

Unsurprisingly perhaps Casillas had, according to reports in Spain, appeared frustrated with the crowd reaction during the Valencia game but Ancelotti is confident his number one will bounce back superbly in what will be his 150th Champions League appearance.

‘Casillas has a great amount of experience; he’s used to this kind of thing and it doesn’t affect him. In fact, I think it motivates him,’ said Ancelotti.

‘I’ve said before, sometimes I understand it (jeers) because the players don’t play well. But I think tomorrow will be different.

‘All Madrid fans understand when it’s an important game.

‘Many times in the past they’ve really got behind us, as they did against Atletico (Madrid) and last year in the semi-final they really got behind us, and I’m sure they’ll do so again.”

Madrid will continue to be without Luka Modric but Ancelotti confirmed Karim Benzema will feature at some point as the defending champions seek a return to winning ways at home in the Champions League after their 11-match streak was ended by Schalke in March.

‘Benzema is fine,’ Ancelotti said. ‘He’s 100 per cent fit. He needed a little more time to recover but he’s ready. He could play from the start or he could come l ater on. Chicarito (Javier Hernandez) gives us different options.’