Ancelotti: Bale has got his confidence back

The Welshman has been criticised for his fluctuating form this season but he netted two fine goals in Wales' 3-0 win over Israel last weekend.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that the international break has helped Gareth Bale get his confidence back.

Bale has been targeted by both the Spanish press and the Santiago Bernabeu boo boys on account of his inconsistent form this season and he came in for some particularly heavy criticism after a lacklustre showing in the 

Blancos' last Liga outing, a disappointing 2-1 loss at leaders Barcelona on March 22.

However, the Wales winger was at his brilliant best in his country's Euro 2016 qualifier in Israel last weekend, netting twice in a 3-0 win. 

Consequently, Ancelotti fully expects Bale to play a key part in Sunday's must-win Liga meeting with Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The international break has helped him gain confidence," the Italian coach told reporters on Saturday. "Plus, the last two games he has played at home, [against Levante and Schalke], Bale has played well."

While rumours persist about Bale's future in the Spanish capital, with the former Tottenham star being linked with a return to the Premier League this summer, there has only been one piece of transfer news confirmed by Madrid this week: the acquisition of right-back Danilo.

The Brazilian will join from Porto at the end of the season for a fee of €31.5 million and Ancelotti believes the defender will prove a shrewd signing, dismissing the suggestion that news of his imminent arrival will unsettle either Dani Carvajal or Alvaro Arbeloa.

"Danilo is a great full-back," the former Chelsea boss added. "He is for next year obviously, but in every team there is competition and this helps you to improve.

"Carvajal and Arbeloa understand that in the best teams, there is always competition for places and both are focused on the current season."

Clasico defeat will help Madrid - Ancelotti

Despite losing the game, the Italian felt his side at least returned to their normal playing style after several weeks of poor performances.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says the club's Clasico defeat to Barcelona will ultimately prove to be a positive.

The Italian's side were beaten 2-1 at Camp Nou on March 22 but the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain boss saw big improvements in his team from previous weeks.

Madrid have disappointed since the turn of the year, which has allowed Barca to leapfrog them at the top of La Liga and open up a four-point gap.

But Ancelotti believes his players are slowly returning to something like their normal selves and says the defeat to their arch-rivals will benefit them in the long run.

He said: "The defeat was hard, but the sensations were good because they returned to play as we wanted and as we know. That will help us win more in the future."

Madrid overcame Schalke in the last-16 of the Champions League to set up a quarter-final tie with Atletico Madrid and Ancelotti admitted retaining the trophy is his priority.

"As I always say, the first objective is to reach the Champions League final and the second is overcome the opposition in the final.

"This Real Madrid has all the conditions to compete at all levels in all competitions, so the goal is to win."

SORUCE : GOAL.COM

Ronaldo: I'd pay my own money to buy Messi

The legendary Brazilian would love to self-fund a transfer for the Barcelona forward to join Fort Lauderdale Strikers, who he currently plays for

Brazil legend Ronaldo claims he would splash his own cash to bring Lionel Messi from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Messi has lit up La Liga for over decade and, since the turn of the calendar year, has been in fantastic form for Luis Enrique's side as the Catalans have returned to the summit in the Spanish championship.

Ronaldo, who played for Barcelona and Real Madrid in his prime, recently became part-owner of second-tier US side Fort Lauderdale and revealed his ambition to lure Messi away from Camp Nou using his own money.

"I'd pay out of my own pocket to sign Messi," he told reporters at an event to launch the North American Soccer League (NASL) season, which the FL Strikers will take part in.

Messi is not the only global superstar on Ronaldo's wishlist, with the World Cup-winner also hoping his new club can someday convince his namesake Cristiano Ronaldo that the Florida club are worth leaving Real Madrid for.

"The sky is the limit for Strikers. This club will become great," he added. "Why not Messi? Why not Cristiano Ronaldo? In a few years' time we will be able to make it happen.

"Nothing is impossible. The US is the second-fastest growing country in the world in terms of football, after China. A lot of famous players will want to come and play in South Florida because of the quality of life. Who wouldn't want to live here?"

SOURCE : GOAL.COM

Real Madrid 9-1 Granada: Ronaldo hits five in easy win for Blancos

The Portuguese star was on fire in the Santiago Bernabeu while Gareth Bale netted one and Karim Benzema hit a double as they strolled to the three points

Cristiano Ronaldo well and truly stole the show in Real Madrid's 9-1 win over Granada on Sunday with an eight-minute hat-trick as part of a five-goal masterclass.

The Portuguese superstar is running out of achievements to notch up in Spain, but he netted his fastest treble in a Real shirt, and his first since December, within 38 minutes of a wonderfully clinical display.

Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, twice, were also on target for Carlo Ancelotti's side in Madrid, while Diego 

Mainz put through his own net to compound Granada's misery late on.

Bizarrely given such an emphatic scoreline, Real were far from their fluent best early on.

However, from the moment they led after 25 minutes when Bale's recent upturn in form continued with a well-taken opener under pressure, they never looked back.

Having coolly rounded goalkeeper Oier, Bale registered his fifth goal in four outings for club and country to set the ball rolling, before Ronaldo took centre stage and almost single-handedly put Granada to the sword.

The returning James Rodriguez supplied his first before the Ballon d'Or holder made the most of two Oier errors to register his 24th, and quickest, Liga hat-trick.

The onslaught continued in the second half as Ronaldo scored his fourth in between Benzema's brace, with 

Roberto Ibanez's late consolation the only disappointment for the hosts.

Mainz then turned Luka Modric's cross into his own net to present Real with another gift, before Ronaldo - fittingly - had the final say to move Real to within a point of Barcelona, who play Celta Vigo later on Sunday

SORUCE : GOAL.COM