Gaizka Mendieta: 'Gareth Bale will only get better'

Real Madrid's record-signing and Champions League hero Gareth Bale is only going to improve over the coming seasons, according to Gaizka Mendieta.

The Welshman put Los Blancos ahead in extra time in the final against Atletico Madrid before his side ran out 4-1 winners.

However, despite scoring 22 goals in his first season in the Spanish capital and lifting two trophies, Mendieta insists that there is more to come from Bale.

He told talkSPORT: "He went to Madrid and it's a difficult club to get into because of the pressure from the fans. It's so demanding. You might not think he's performing at the level he was for Spurs but he needs time and I'm sure that he will be even better in terms of performance.

"This season will give him the confidence. Tonight maybe he was too anxious and you have to take on board Real Madrid didn't play very well. He was still in the game and he had three chances, and the third one he scored and that's what matters.

"They won the Champions League and that's everything, I think a lot of Real Madrid fans will be very happy about those millions Florentino Perez [Real Madrid president] spent on him."

Mendieta was a losing Champions League finalist with Valencia in 2000 and 2001.