Wales manager Coleman unfazed by Bale jeers

LONDON: Wales manager Chris Coleman played down concerns regarding Gareth Bale's popularity at Real Madrid on Wednesday, describing the forward as the last player he needed to worry about.
Despite scoring crucial goals in Madrid's Copa del Rey and Champions League final triumphs last season, Bale has been jeered by some of the club's fans in recent weeks for his supposed selfishness on the pitch.
The 25-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur flyer recently went nine games without scoring, but Coleman said he had no qualms about Bale's state of mind ahead of Wales's crucial European Championship qualifier in Israel.
"He's got no points to prove from us," Coleman said after naming his squad for the March 28 game in Haifa. "His fight in Madrid and what he has to prove every time he goes on the pitch there is separate to us.
"I've worked in Spain and I know how it works. And as much as they're saying he hasn't been caught up in it, unfortunately he has been, but I honestly have no worries about Gareth. He's the last person I'd worry about."
Wales are currently second in Euro 2016 qualifying Group B, a point behind Israel, having played a game more. – AFP