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Andres Kudacki/AP/Press Association Images

Bale can do better, says Ancelotti

The world’s most expensive player has been struggling for form since returning from a calf injury.

WELSH STAR GARETH Bale can do better, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.

Bale has been struggling to recapture his best form since returning from a calf injury but Italian Ancelotti says it is normal that he takes time to settle.

“For his first year, he’s doing well,” said the Italian.

“Of course he can do better because he needs to combine better with his team-mates.

“But those are normal problems for a player who’s discovering a new culture, new football and new country.”

Bale was suffering from an inflammation of the calf after picking up a knock in training but returned to first-team action earlier this month.

The 24-year-old has not been able to regain the starting berth he seemed to have made his own in November.

In Real’s four matches so far in 2014, the player signed from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee in the region of €100 million has had little influence.

It’s a far cry from his form in November when he scored eight goals and created six others during a seven-game spell.

“It’s not a problem about being in the starting line-up or not, Gareth Bale is a very, very important player for us,” added Ancelotti.

“Gareth Bale’s history is very clear: he had problems in pre-season but when he started getting fit, he played well. He scored a lot of goals and provided some good assists.

- © AFP, 2014

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    Mute Damien Costello
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:14 PM

    7k fine to a 17 year old is ridiculous for what he done. Code vialiation is about all he deserved.

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:32 PM

    If he can keep hitting the ball with that accuracy he should be long making back the $7000.

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Feb 8th 2017, 12:39 PM

    Accidently on purpose hit the ref

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    Mute Damien Costello
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    Feb 8th 2017, 1:11 PM

    Well I think if he done it on purpose he would’ve missed by a mile. You see the bigger names smashing balls and throwing rackets into the crowd and at officials and nothing happening to them.

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    Mute Paul Scanlon
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    Feb 8th 2017, 1:24 PM

    Total BS the lad didn’t intentionally hit the umpire. It was an accident, We all make mistake. I think they should have taken a break and continued with the match. A simple apology would have been appropriate. Imposing a 7k fine on a child is ridiculous

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    Mute DuskyTheCat
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    Feb 8th 2017, 2:17 PM

    Child my ass.

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    Mute Name
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    Feb 12th 2017, 6:54 AM

    To all who red thumbed me the other day for suggesting the book should be thrown at him. The umpire was operated on for an orbital bone fracture. Accident? Yes. Wreckless? Utterly.

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Feb 8th 2017, 4:41 PM

    Fair play brightens up the boring sport

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