Gareth Bale: 'Future still bright for Real Madrid'

Gareth Bale has said that Real Madrid's 4-1 pre-season win over Manchester City on Friday is evidence that the future is still bright for the Blancos.

Real endured a trophyless season last time around as Clasico rivals Barcelona swept all before them to clinch La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has since been sacked and replaced with Rafael Benitez, who led his side to a comfortable win over the Sky Blues in Melbourne.

Victory saw them lift the International Champions Cup, and Bale hopes that it is the first of several trophies during the 2015-16 campaign.

"We know we have to win," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"But at the moment it's about building fitness. To get a win under our belts already is a good step in the right direction, and hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here."

Benitez's side raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, before Yaya Toure reduced the arrears from the penalty spot before the break.

Nevertheless, Denis Cheryshev restored the three-goal cushion in the final quarter.