Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has shot down any suggestions Gareth Bale could return to play at left-back after Brazilian international Marcelo was ruled out for a couple of weeks by a hamstring injury.
Marcelo will miss both legs of Real`s Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund with the first leg taking place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Bale began his career at left-back at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur before twice becoming Premier League Player of the Year from a more advanced position and Ancelotti insisted that the Welshman would maintain his place on the right side of Real`s attack.
"Bale at full-back is not an option for us," he told his pre-match press conference ahead of Dortmund`s visit to the Spanish capital.
"We have a problem with Marcelo, but we can cover his absence well with (Fabio) Coentrao. He is fresh and will replace him without any problems."
Bale was on target twice in Real`s 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday as Ancelotti`s men bounced back from consecutive defeats to Barcelona and Sevilla.
That double took the former Tottenham man`s tally for the season to 16, but he has been criticised for his lack of impact in Real`s biggest games.
Ancelotti admitted that Bale can be inconsistent, but defended the player`s attitude and claimed that was to be expected given the type of player he is and the position he plays in.
"I think it is true he is a little intermittent, but that is a characteristic of all forwards and especially very quick players.
"Players with that speed can`t have a continuous influence likes other players with different characteristics like Xabi Alonso.
"His inconsistency is a physical characteristic of the player, like Cristiano (Ronaldo) or (Karim) Benzema. It is not an attitude problem."
Real midfielder and Bale`s former Tottenham teammate Luka Modric also believes the 24-year-old has made a fine contribution in his first season with Madrid.
"I think he is doing very well. He is helping the team a lot and has scored a lot of goals and given many assists.
"He is a very important player for us. I don`t think he has been very selfish, I think he has given more assists than anyone in La Liga which says it all."
Dortmund had the upper hand over Madrid in four meetings in total in last season`s Champions League, but most notably in the semi-finals as they progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
Robert Lewandowski scored all four of his side`s goals in the first leg, but the Polish international will be missing at the Bernabeu due to suspension, whilst Dortmund are without five other key first-team players through injury.
The speedy Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang is expected to replace Lewandowski up front and Ancelotti is wary of Dortmund`s threat on the counter-attack.
"Borussia Dortmund are very dangerous on the counter-attack and it is clear we have to play an offensive match because we need a positive result, but we need to be very careful on them on the break.
"Aubemayang is a player I know well because we was in the Milan youth team when I was there. He is having a fantastic career.
"The absence of Lewandowski is important, but I think they can cover that up well with Aubemayang."
AFP
First Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 18:24
