Gareth Bale caught laughing at Eden Hazard being kept on the bench during Real Madrid’s defeat to Athletic Bilbao
Gareth Bale was caught laughing at the decision to keep Eden Hazard on the bench during Real Madrid’s defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening.
Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey as Alex Berenguer’s late goal in the 89th minute sealed Athletic’s win.
Hazard, who has failed to make an impact since his £88.5 million move from Chelsea in 2019, started the quarter-final tie as a substitute.
After warming up for most of the second half, the Belgian was ordered to sit back down on the bench by a member of Madrid’s coaching staff with around 15 minutes remaining.
But as Hazard trudged back to his seat in the dugout and put his coat back on, Bale burst out laughing at the former Chelsea forward.
Bale was also an unused substitute alongside Luka Jovic, who was offered to Arsenal in the January transfer window.
<p lang=«und» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«und»>pic.twitter.com/Pntqfs3P4PWhen asked about the decision to keep Hazard and Bale on the bench, Carlo Ancelotti said after the game: ‘I brought Camavinga and Isco on for Kroos and Vinicius because of fatigue.
‘I was waiting for extra time to make another change, but unfortunately they scored and we ran out of time.
‘Why are you talking about Bale, Hazard and Jovic? Why not ask about Ceballos, Carvajal?
‘All of the guys who don’t play, it must because they’re being punished, right? It can’t be just those three. There’s nothing in it.
‘I made decisions which didn’t involve those players but if we’re being honest you have to discuss Ceballos, who didn’t play a single minute, and those who are on the bench like Vallejo, who have the same quality.’
Ancelotti also admitted Madrid felt the absence of Karim Benzema, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
‘We didn’t play with an
