Bale Says His Partnership With Ronaldo is Secret to Real Madrid's Success

Gareth Bale believes his partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo has been "the big factor" behind Real Madrid's march to the Champions League final.

While Real Madrid failed to reach the final of Europe's premier competition during Jose Mourinho's three seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, Caro Ancelotti's side have already achieved this pretigious feat - and they won the Copa del Rey earlier in the season.

And the former Tottenham legend believes his amazing partnership with the Portuguese star has allowed Real Madrid to reestablish their preeminance after a season without silverwhare, with the pair having scored 71 goals this season.

"He has been very helpful since day one and we talk a lot and have a very good relationship on and off the field. We both feel it is working very, very well and I think that is the big factor behind where we are here," Bale was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"I've learnt a bit of everything [from Ronaldo] – how he deals with things on and off the pitch. Also the way he plays and gets himself into certain positions. He has obviously been unbelievable this season. He has been very supportive. From the first day I came in, he would usually speak to me and give me advice over the best areas to live and stuff on the pitch."

Even though a number of injuries during the first part of the season hampered Bale's adaptation to La Liga, the Welshman has captured the Spanish supporters' hearts – especially after his stunning goal in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.

Now Bale is seeking to replicate that in Saturday's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

"It would be a dream [to win]. The city has a real buzz about it. It's football mad at the best of times but there's a real sense of anticipation at the moment," he said.

"If someone had told me then that I would be playing in a Champions League final, I probably would not have believed them straight away but that is football for you," he says.

"Strange things happen. It surprises everybody. I felt the time was right to leave Tottenham and go to Real Madrid for the exact reasons I am experiencing now. As a player you want to come to the best club in the world and you want to win trophies."