Gareth Bale Defends Eden Hazard Over Champions League Incident

Gareth Bale has come to the defence of Real Madrid's Eden Hazard, after the forward was criticised for his behaviour following Real's loss to Chelsea.

After Los Blancos were knocked out of the Champions League semi final by Chelsea, Hazard was seen having a laugh with his former teammates at Stamford Bridge.

Despite those players being Hazard's friends, the post match chatting didn't go down well in Madrid, with one television presenter dropping a particularly harsh tirade.

Despite the shocking nature of the reaction, with the 30-year-old blasted for being 'overweight' and being told he should no longer be at Real, it was nothing Gareth Bale hadn't seen before.

The Welshman has had a lot of criticism in his eight years as a Real player and he defended his teammate's post match behaviour.

"I've seen it," the Welshman told the Times of the reaction, "It was literally as if he'd just murdered everybody. It's a game of football at the end of the day."

Hazard hugs his former teammate Jorginho. Image: PA Images

Speaking about his own troubles with the media, Bale explained how tough it can be in the Spanish capital.

"In Spain, football is very magnified. Everything you do at Real Madrid is magnified. The media have cameras on you 24/7."

His golfing became an issue in the media as did his reported lack of embracing the culture, including having later meals, and his apparent lack of Spanish language.

However the former Southampton player actually does speak Spanish, "I speak well enough to get by and I understand everything that's going on," he explained.

"It was because I didn't speak to them. And I didn't speak to them in Spanish.

"So they obviously create this big drama, this big soap opera that I can't do this and I can't do that."

Bale has never been a favourite of Zidane's, despite winning him a Champions League final. Image: PA Images

Sunday could be his last appearance for Spurs. His loan ends after the team face Leicester City, with the Foxes still playing for a top four finish.

There doesn't seem to be much hope of him moving to north London on a permanent deal next season and according to reports he will see out the final year of his contract in Madrid and then retire.

Rumours abound that Zinedine Zidane could leave the Bernabeu again at the end of the season and that would give him some hope about playing for Real next season, maybe even with Hazard.

Topics: Eden Hazard, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Football, Premier League, gareth bale, Champions League, Real Madrid, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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