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Zidane says Bale has to accept occasional jeers

Bale was whistled by the fans as he was withdrawn early following a poor showing in the 2-2 La Liga draw against Valencia before the international break, was once again off colour against Levante.

File Photo: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane

Bengaluru, September 10: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has stated that star winger Gareth Bale must accept occasional whistles from the Santiago Bernabeu crowd, but also claims the winger's mood has not been affected by criticism of his start to the 2016-17 campaign.

Bale was whistled by the fans as he was withdrawn early following a poor showing in the 2-2 La Liga draw against Valencia before the international break, was once again off colour against Levante on Saturday (September 9) in their 1-1 draw.

With Cristiano Ronaldo still serving a 5-game domestic ban, expectations are big from the Welsh superstar but the 28-year-old has hardly delivered much since the last season.

The Welsh international could reportedly have left Madrid this summer, although Madrid president Florentino Perez has stated that he received no offer for him, while Bale has regularly maintained that he is happy in Spain and wants to continue winning trophies with the club.

However, his popularity among the fans seems to be on the ebb and he must deliver now if he has to gain it back.

Zidane told a news conference that nobody liked to be targeted by their own team's fans, but the reality is that if Madrid do not win every game then such whistles are to be expected.

"No player is happy when he is whistled," he said. "But I see [Bale] in good spirits. Not as bad as people say. Gareth is a very important player in the squad, and will do very well this season.

"There can be a game when he does not play well or the result is not what is required, but that is inevitable at Madrid, we cannot avoid that. We must get used to it, and try to win all the games."

Real Madrid have endured a poor start to the season and will be looking to get back to their best as the season goes on.

Story first published: Sunday, September 10, 2017, 12:01 [IST]
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