Gareth Bale believes Real Madrid are more united now than they were before and feels he has room to improve on a personal level.
Bale spoke to the Press to preview the Clasico and having told reporters he believes Los Blancos can win against Barcelona and challenge for the title, was asked about harmony in the locker room under Zinedine Zidane.
“He asks us to do it all. To attack and defend as a team, together,” Bale revealed, AS reports.
“Maybe in the past we weren’t so united, but now we are. The XI does what it has to do.
“It’s not a surprise [that Zidane gets angry]. He does what anyone would. Sometimes we need that, to give us a boost.
“He gives us a lot of confidence. We know what we have to do and let’s hope we finish the season with a trophy.”
On a personal level Bale accepts his form last season wasn’t up to standard, and rued an injury-hit third year at Santiago Bernabeu.
“The opinion of me has changed a little. This season I’ve improved, I participate more and I play better,” he continued.
“Everyone knows I like to play in the middle, but if we don’t play a system with that position, then I like the right to come inside and create chances. I prefer the centre or the right, but the left doesn’t bother me.
“I was playing well until my injury, but this happens in football. I’m more comfortable now. I speaks more Spanish in the locker room and the happier you are, the better you function.
“I can still do much more and I hope to continue improving. I’m playing well, growing, improving, in form. But there is a lot more to come.”
Bale was asked about his experience of life in Spain and the end of Gary Neville’s tenure at Valencia, which was confirmed shortly before the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was speaking.
“I’m more adapted and I like living here. The meal times are different but my family has a good time here. I have a contract until 2019 and I’ll stay,” he vowed.
“I haven’t seen [the Neville news]. It’s hard to work in Spain without speaking Spanish. He’ll learn from this and it can help for the future.
“[La Liga is different] from the Premier League. There is more room [in the Premier League] but I’m improving. Last season was difficult and I learned a lot about myself.
“I think I came out of it stronger and that I’ve improved. I understand the game much better.”
