Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed Gareth Bale against growing criticism in the local press, while saying the Welshman is sure to start Wednesday's Copa del Rey last 16 first leg at Atletico Madrid.
Bale has been singled out by some Blancos fans and pundits as a scapegoat for last Sunday's 2-1 La Liga defeat at Valencia, a result which ended Madrid's record 22-game winning streak.
Some have argued the match turned on a moment at 1-1 when the former Tottenham player ran clear and could have given teammates Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo a simple tap-in, but went for goal himself and blew the chance.
Marca have subsequently reported that the Madrid dressing room is unhappy with the Wales international for putting his own interests ahead of the team. Such stories give credence to speculation that Bale, who has 11 goals in 23 games this season, could be tempted to return to the Premier League if reported interest from Manchester United is firmed up next summer.
However, Ancelotti, Bale himself, and Blancos president Florentino Perez have always maintained that the 100 million-euro signing is going nowhere, and the Italian told his pregame news conference that he was happy with the No. 11's performances both since arriving at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and particularly during the much-debated incident at Valencia.
"I do not think Bale is an individualist," Ancelotti said. "If he feels pressure it is positive because he has scored goals in the finals we have played. And tomorrow for sure he is going to play. I have watched the move and it was not easy to pass the ball. It was very difficult. He had no space, and tried to score. I do not need to talk with him. He knows very well when he has to pass the ball. But he took the right decision."
Ancelotti is expected to shuffle his lineup for the Copa derbi, and confirmed that backup keeper Keylor Navas would definitely start in place of club captain Iker Casillas.
"Keylor Navas is going to play in the cup, right until the final," he said. "It could be there are some other changes. There are players who have not yet recovered [from Sunday's game]. But we will put out the best team possible."
The match at the Estadio Vicente Calderon will be Ancelotti's ninth meeting with Diego Simeone's side in his 18 months at the Bernabeu -- with Real so far winning just three times: the Champions League final last May, and both last season's Copa semifinal legs.
"We know each other well," he said. "[Atletico] are a difficult team to play against, as they battle and are organised. They are one of the best teams in Europe. We will set out to play the same as always, to play with our identity, our philosophy and our quality. Each has their own idea of football. Atletico will prepare a game with intensity, and we will too. The team who does most on the pitch will win."
The game could see the second debut of Atletico fans' hero Fernando Torres, whose presence should bring an upsurge in emotion and excitement among the Calderon faithful.
"Without playing yet, Torres has already brought enthusiasm to the fans," said Ancelotti, who was in charge at Chelsea at 2011 when the forward had difficulty settling on arrival from Liverpool. "Torres has quality, experience and in this atmosphere he will be motivated and very eager to do well."
Ancelotti was also asked by reporters for his reaction to the institutional crisis which has gripped Madrid's other big rivals Barcelona through recent days, and said he felt Blaugrana coach Luis Enrique was correct to bench Lionel Messi for Sunday's game at Real Sociedad.
"I am not delighting in that, I just look at my team, not what is happening at Barcelona," he said. "I will only say that there are teams who have problems during the season. I do not know the Barcelona dressing room, I cannot comment on that. Luis Enrique is the person who must make those decisions. He made the right one."