Giggs Tells Bale Madrid Criticism Is Normal
By Max Wise
Wales national team manager, Ryan Giggs, has told his star player, Gareth Bale, to accept the criticisms being thrown at him at Real Madrid since they are part of the environment where he works.
Bale has been made a scapegoat by some Real Madrid fans for the club’s poor form this season, and he was jeered by the supporters when he was substituted in the El Classiso defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga earlier this month.
Bale was supposed to be the main man for Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo departed for Juventus at the start of the season but injury problems and inconsistent form has changed the script.
The former Southampton youngster joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspurs for a then world record fee of €100m in August 2013, but after winning four Champions League trophies, one La Liga and scoring over 100 goals for the club, the Madridistas have still not taken to Bale.
The incessant criticism at the club recently led to Bale’s agent labelling the Madrid fans a disgrace, but Giggs believes the Welsh international should cope with it because it is normal at top clubs.
Speaking at a news conference where he announced his latest Wales squad, Giggs told reporters: "That [criticism] comes with playing for Real Madrid.
"Obviously, I played for United and you are open to criticism when you're at a big club. Everyone's had it.
"The two Ronaldos had it at Madrid, Gareth Bale has it. He won't be the last person to be criticised.
"What's he won? Four Champions Leagues. Scored the winner [in the final] last year. It doesn't really need [me] to say much more.
"But when you're at Real Madrid, and when you've got a high profile like Gareth Bale, you are open to criticism, that comes with the territory.
"He's at Real Madrid. When I played at United and you lost, you have to put up with that, just like you have to put up with the adulation when you win leagues, when you win Champions Leagues.
"It comes with the territory and you have to put with it and Gareth's put up with it. Great players over the years have put up with that, especially at Real Madrid.
"There's newspapers dedicated every day to reporting on that club, so you have to take the rough with the smooth. Gareth always turns up, gives everyone a lift and he's always been brilliant around the camp."
