Bale defends Hazard against Spanish press

He defended Eden Hazard for the the criticisms he received after Madrid's elimination from the Champions League. He also criticised the Spanish press, who he accused of creating a "soap opera" for his refusal to speak Spanish, even though he understood everything that was said to him.

Gareth Bale has spoken out loud and clear. With his future at Real Madrid up in the air, the Welshman took an interview with 'The Times' in which he criticised the Spanish press for being overly harsh with him during his spell in the Spanish capital. He then defended Eden Hazard and admitted that would prefer a more relaxed life away from the focus.

Regarding the criticisms the Belgian received after the cameras caught him laughing with his ex-Chelsea teammates after his side's elimination from the Champions League, he said: "I've seen it. It was literally as if he'd just murdered everybody. It's a game of football at the end of the day."