Carlo Ancelotti has explained Gareth Bale’s absence from Real Madrid’s Clásico squad on Sunday.
Bale has rarely featured since returning to fitness after the turn of the year, having to settle for just one start.
The Wales international was given a start up from against Villarreal, and he didn’t do too badly at all, but since then, he has found himself an unused substitute.
Though, on Sunday, Ancelotti could have done with Bale’s presence, without Karim Benzema up top and sorely lacking a reference point.
That’s not to say the Italian would have used Bale, having overlooked him more often than not for months, but the option would have been useful to have.
As a fixture of Real Madrid‘s bench over recent months, it was a surprise to see the Welsh veteran absent from the whole squad for Los Blancos’ home humbling to fierce rivals Barcelona, when they lost 4-0.
But Ancelotti has explained that there was an injury at play, potentially making him a doubt for Wales’ crucial World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final with Austria on Thursday.
“I don’t know what will happen with Wales,” Ancelotti said after the game. “He didn’t feel right.”
