Carlo Ancelotti: 'Gareth Bale's numbers will improve'

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has thrown his support behind under-fire Welshman Gareth Bale.

The attacker has faced criticism from sections of the Bernabeu crowd this season, while he has not scored in eight games during a disappointing run of form.

Ancelotti, however, has insisted that dropping the 25-year-old to the bench is not in his mind.

"I would need to change the whole team - [Karim] Benzema, Cristiano [Ronaldo], the midfield... I think Bale is happy with what he is doing. He understands perfectly and his figures will improve," Ancelotti told reporters at a press conference.

Bale needs nine goals from now until the end of the campaign to better his tally of 22 strikes from his first season with the Spanish outfit.