How Gareth Bale Can Prove He's an Ace in the Pack for Real Madrid Once More

Gareth Bale has been criticised by Real Madrid supporters and the media alike for a string of below-par performances since the turn of the year.

He was again on the receiving end of whistles from the Bernabeu crowd prior to Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Valencia, as noted by Madrid-based journalist Dermot Corrigan.

But the Welshman responded in good fashion with a much-improved display. He was guilty of some loose crosses and passes here and there but worked hard, got himself involved and came mightily close to scoring two times during the first half.

He struck the crossbar with a well-executed free-kick from the right edge of the area and later fired a rasping drive on target, which was saved at full stretch by Diego Alves in the Valencia goal.

He also provided a good return pass to Javier Hernandez on a one-two that set up a shot for the Mexico international, which came back off the post. It was Bale who was pushed down inside the area for the late first-half penalty, which was missed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was quieter after the break but still managed a shot on target and a pass to set up another chance for Hernandez.

It was certainly a brighter display than he managed against Juventus on Tuesday. He received widespread criticism for that performance after seeing less of the ball than any other Madrid player, including goalkeeper Iker Casillas, as per Ruben Jimenez of Marca.

And his agent, Jonathan Barnett, was quick to praise his client’s resolve in the aftermath of his improved contribution on Saturday.

“Most people would have been broken by this but he is determined,” he told John Percy of the Telegraph. “I spoke to him on Thursday and while he’s obviously p----d off things aren’t going well he is desperate to get out there again.”

Bale is clearly keen to prove his worth and win over the Madrid fanbase. However, is the latter pursuit simply a fool’s errand?

This is, we must remember, a player who, as per data from WhoScored.com, provided a direct contribution (scoring or assisting) to over a goal per 90 minutes in league and Champions League play last season. He is a player who scored the go-ahead goals in Madrid’s Copa del Rey and Champions League final successes.

His performances and attacking output have undoubtedly dropped off a little this season. But it says much for the attitude of the Madrid media and certain sectors of their support that last season’s accomplishments seem to have provided the Welshman with little ongoing credit.

In the current environment, it is difficult to know exactly what would be required to win them over. A decisive contribution during Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus would perhaps temporarily dampen the criticism. But would that hold over time?

His only crime, as Mike Goodman of Grantland wrote in March, is that he has “failed to live up to the constantly changing, increasingly impossible, always indefinable expectations of the Real Madrid faithful.”

To that should also be added the expectations of the local media, who seem to hold Bale to a higher standard than other players. Spanish newspaper AS handed him a rating of one out of three for his performance against Valencia. Ronaldo, who missed the penalty and didn’t trouble the away goal in open play, received a point more.

Bale still has an important supporter in the form of club president Florentino Perez. Ruben Jimenez of Marca reported on Saturday that the Madrid president still believes the 25-year-old is ideally placed to step into Ronaldo’s boots as and when the Portugal international leaves the Bernabeu.

The same article indicated that Perez was convinced Bale would come up trumps for the club in the final weeks of the season.

And Carlo Ancelotti has continued to pick the Welshman whenever he has been available. “He will be playing well again soon,” the Italian said on Friday after being questioned about Bale’s poor performance against Juventus.

In reality, the only opinions Bale should care about right now are those of Ancelotti, his team-mates and Perez. The views of fans and the media are just unnecessary noise and an unwelcome distraction.

If he works hard and performs the roles given to him to the best of his ability, that will be sufficient to garner the trust and respect of those who truly matter. And that is how he can prove his worth to Real Madrid.