‘Ball hog’ Bale angers Ronaldo, fans again
Print Edition
GARETH Bale angered Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for the second La Liga game in a row on Saturday when he opted to shoot instead of passing in the second half of a 3-0 victory against Espanyol.
Ronaldo, well placed in the penalty area to the Wales forward’s left during a swift break, reacted furiously after Bale’s weak effort went wide.
It was a similar situation last weekend when Bale chose to go for goal instead of squaring the ball to Karim Benzema in the 1-2 defeat at Valencia.
Bale’s actions on Saturday prompted whistling from fans at the Bernabeu and will do nothing to dispel the impression that he can be selfish, something that has earned him the label “ball hog” in the Spanish media.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti noted the Welshman had earlier scored a superb free-kick that put Real 2-0 ahead.
“Later on the fans wanted him to pass to Cristiano but forwards are determined to score when they are through on the goalkeeper,” Ancelotti said.
“Generosity is very important and if someone is being selfish then we will address it,” added the Italian. “The supporters are very demanding when it comes to the important players and Bale is one of those.
“We shouldn’t blow this out of proportion. It’s one moment in a football game. Relations between them (Bale and Ronaldo) and everyone are very good. We are all pursuing the same goal which is to lift Real Madrid as high as possible.”
Valencia missed a chance to close within a point of Barcelona and Atletico when they drew 1-1 at Celta Vigo.
After Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves had saved a 28th-minute Fabian Orellana penalty, Rodrigo fired the visitors ahead two minutes before the break before Orellana made amends with a well-taken equalizer in the 61st.
In Italy, AC Milan was held to 1-1 at Torino in Serie A after playing half the match with 10 men. Earlier, Sassuolo drew 1-1 at home to Udinese.
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