Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says under-fire Gareth Bale will remain in the starting line-up against Schalke . The Welsh winger has been criticised by a section of Real 's fans and the local media for a dip in form , having set up just one goal and failed to score in Real 's last eight matches . According to a poll in Spanish newspaper AS 46 per cent of supporters would prefer to see Bale dropped form the team ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema . Garteh Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were in high spirits on Monday despite the club 's poor form recently . The Wales forward has been criticised by sections of the Real Madrid support in recent weeks . Real Madrid manager talks to Bale and Ronaldo during training on Monday ahead of Schalke clash . But Ancelotti has no qualms about starting him in the Bernabeu clash with Schalke , which Real Madrid go into with a two-goal cushion having won the first leg 2-0 away from home . 'If I had to replace those who were not playing at their best , I would have to change the whole squad , ' the Italian told the Spanish media on Monday . 'The whole team needs to improve . I 'm sure Bale is not happy with what he is doing and he understands that and wants to do better . ' Ancelotti is confident his side can rediscover their best form , despite a disappointing draw with Villarreal and a defeat to Athletic Club in their last two games . A shortage of goals has been Real 's biggest problem , with Benzema and Ronaldo also struggling . Bale ( left ) , Fabio Coentrao and Ronaldo ( right ) were put through their paces on Monday . Former Tottneham players Bale and Luka Modric laugh and joke as they go through their warm-up . Ancelotti says he will keep faith with his misfiring strikeforce for the second leg of the Schalke tie . ' I have complete confidence in them ( Bale , Benzema and Ronaldo ) , ' he said . 'They have given us so much in the past and our identity is not going to change . 'There has been a general drop in form , not just of the three of them , but of the whole team . 'Right now the team is not helping our strikers much . 'We are not playing fast , we are passing the ball too much and we need to try to find the right pass to make the most of our strikers ' potential . ' Even so , there is now not much room for error if the Spanish giants are going to win titles in Europe or on the domestic front . After the Schalke game , Real will host Levante this weekend before travelling to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona on March 22 . Ronaldo reacts to a decision during Madrid 's loss to Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Saturday evening . Bale has been booed and jeered by Real Madrid supporters a couple of times . 'No team can make any mistakes from now on because otherwise you compromise the campaign , ' he said . 'There is more pressure now at this stage of the campaign . 'In the Champions League , we want to do the best we can because this is the best competition in the world . 'We did well against German opposition last season and we hope to do the same this year . ' Real hammered Schalke 9-2 on aggregate at the same stage and then beat Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich en route to lifting a record 10th European cup last season . The Spanish giants have won all of their Champions League games so far and will be bolstered by the return of midfield pair Luka Modric and Sami Khedira from injury . Real are without injured defender Sergio Ramos .
Real drew a blank as they were beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday . Barcelona moved ahead of the Champions League winners in the title race . Gareth Bale has failed to score in his last eight Real Madrid matches . Wales forward has been criticised by sections of the Real Madrid support . Poll in AS found that 46 per cent of supporters wanted Bale dropped . Carlo Ancelotti says he will keep faith with Bale for Schalke on Tuesday . CLICK HERE for all the latest Real Madrid news .