Carlo Ancelotti has not got the best out of Gareth Bale, says Terry Gibson
Gibson also says Ancelotti is not creative enough to be Real Madrid boss
Tuesday 28 July 2015 12:04, UK
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has not got the best out of world-record signing Gareth Bale this season, and is not creative enough to be manager at the Bernabeu, says Terry Gibson.
Bale’s second season in La Liga has not yielded the success of his first since the £86million move from Tottenham in the summer of 2013.
The Welshman’s recent performances have been disappointing, particularly in the 2-1 defeat by Juventus in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
But Gibson, speaking on the La Liga Weekly Podcast, said the criticism is unfair, and the more he gets the more he will want to stay and prove doubters wrong: “I think it's unfair and the more criticism he gets the more likely he is to stay.
“This is part of the bigger picture for me, and I don't think they get the best out of Bale. We've said all along with we've praised Ancelotti throughout the season, and Luis Enrique more recently than the first half of the season.
“But we've always said ultimately at the end of the season will be the time [to judge].
“I'd look at Real Madrid this season in particular and I think the way they have been managed and led by Ancelotti has been pretty poor to be honest.
“I just don't think Ancelotti has got the best out [Bale]. I don't think Ancelotti is creative enough to be coach of Real Madrid.
Real are now four points behind Barcelona with two games remaining in La Liga after a 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday, and if they fail to overcome the gap they will have won just one league title in seven seasons.
Ancelotti did win the Champions League in his first season at the Bernabeu last term, but Gibson, although understanding the dilemma he has with managing so many superstars, says the Italian is not constructive enough as a boss.
“Real Madrid are not winning enough titles. They want to be league champions in Spain. That isn’t going to be the case this year.
“I understand his issues about managing [president] Florentino Perez, about keeping all these superstars happy, but he has to be more constructive as a coach at times.
“Basic 4-4-2 and 4-3-3… that's it with Ancelotti. He's got two players who prefer to play as a No 10, and possibly Gareth Bale could do that role too, that would probably suit him best.
“It is difficult when you get bought Isco, get bought James Rodriguez, get bought Gareth Bale - they are great players to have, and it's up to him to be more constructive and creative as to how he forms a line up.
“And I don't think he has ever really shown at Real Madrid that he has been flexible enough.
“It's the 11 biggest names, even the players taken off are the same every week with Ancelotti.”
