Bale: It’s easier at Real Madrid than Tottenham

The Wales attacker says he is enjoying having less pressure on his shoulders and being able to rely on team-mates at Santiago Bernabeu this season

Gareth Bale says he is finding life at Real Madrid easier as the team does not rely on him to the extent Tottenham did last season.

The Welshman moved to the Blancos for a world record fee in September and Spurs struggled for consistency in his absence, resulting in Andre Villas-Boas' sacking this month.

With the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Isco and fellow ex-Spurs midfielder Luka Modric alongside him at Santiago Bernabeu, Bale believes he is able to focus on his own performance instead of worry about the rest of the team.

"At Tottenham I was always trying to get onto the ball and make everything tick, whereas here everybody's doing that," the 24-year-old told The Telegraph.

"There are world-class players all around the pitch and you're able to concentrate just on your game rather than bringing the whole team forward, and I'm enjoying that."

After a slow start to life in the Spanish capital, Bale has found his feet and scored nine goals in all competitions and he puts his sluggish first few games with the Blancos down to a lack of fitness having been injured in July and August.

"It was difficult not having a pre-season, you miss a lot of ball sessions and running and everything," he added.

"Once I felt I was able to do that physically and mentally, I felt I was able to show what I was able to do."

Bale is not expected to face Valencia on Sunday after missing Saturday morning's Real Madrid training session.