Ancelotti not worried about Bale fitness

02 October 2013 22:01

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted he is not concerned about the general fitness of Gareth Bale after the Welshman missed Real's 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen due to a thigh strain.

It is the second time in two weeks that Bale has been sidelined by a thigh problem as he also missed the league matches against Getafe and Elche.

And Ancelotti hinted that he will miss Saturday's game away to Levante as well as Wales' remaining World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium before returning after the international break.

"We are not worried, but he was not able to play today due to a small problem," Ancelotti told a press conference.

"The scan didn't show anything special, he has just to recover his condition because his pre-season was not so good.

"Now we have time because there is a two-week break and I think he will be ready then.

"It is normal that he is not happy because he wants to play, but it is not a big problem because he will have time to play when there is no risk of injury."

On the field Ancelotti's men put the disappointment of Saturday's 1-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid behind them as doubles from Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria saw them cruise to victory over the Danish champions.

"It was a good match. At the start of the game we had good intensity and our attitude was also very good.

"We changed our system a bit because we knew the team in front of us would be very compact in the centre of the pitch so we wanted to free Di Maria and Ronaldo to have more chances from crosses.

"We used the wings very well, particularly in the first and second goals."

Real's victory allied to Juventus' 2-2 draw with Galatasaray leaves Ancelotti's men in a commanding position in the group, four points ahead of the Italians in second place.

And with Madrid meeting Juventus in their next two games, Ancelotti wants to secure first place in the group as soon as possible.

"I think it is important to always do the best and that includs being first in the group.

"I'm not sure it is so important in terms of playing the second-leg of the last-16 game at home, but for the confidence of the team it is important and something we want to achieve as soon as we can."

Source: AFP