Bale: Champions League win a dream come true

Gareth Bale hailed Real Madrid's Champions League win as a "dream come true" after scoring in the 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid at Estadio da Luz.

Real fell behind to an early Diego Godin goal but fought back, with Sergio Ramos forcing extra-time with a last-minute header before Bale later made it 2-1 and Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off the rout.

And, speaking after the game, the Welshman insisted that "it doesn't come any bigger" than winning European football's biggest prize.

He told Sky Sports: "This is what every footballer dreams of, winning the Champions League - it doesn't come any bigger than that in club football."

Bale also claimed he never felt any doubt that Real would go on to clinch victory, despite Godin handing Diego Simeone's side the lead.

"We've played against Atletico four times already this season and every game is very close and very difficult,” he added. “When they do get a goal ahead it's hard to break them down. Luckily we managed to get a goal in stoppage time and that gave us the momentum.

"We've been showing that all season. When we play our own football we win football games and it was literally just keep attacking, keep doing what we do best and we all believed in that and we all believed if we kept doing that we'd win.

"It was an unbelievable feeling [lifting the trophy] - one you can't describe and yeah, it'll be a memory forever and it'll be great to see it in future years.”

And Bale also laughed off suggestions that his goal paid back his £85m price-tag, adding: "For me, the price tag means nothing. If I came here for a penny I wanted to play well.

“This is why I came to the club, to play in big competitions and win trophies like we have this season. Obviously the move has paid off this year and we want to win more now."

Big teams cannot be satisfied just with one title' - Pellegrini & Kompany strive to improve Manchester City

  Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini and captain Vincent Kompany have both vowed to build on the club's Premier League triumph.

City clinched their second title in three years on Sunday afternoon thanks to a 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium, adding to their Capital One Cup victory in March.

The club finished 11 points behind rivals Manchester United last season as they failed to successfully defend their 2011-12 title under Roberto Mancini, and both men are determined not to repeat past mistakes.

"Well of course I think that big teams cannot be satisfied just with one title," Pellegrini told Sky Sports. "It’s very important to win one or two titles in a year, we must celebrate today and tomorrow and on Tuesday start to work for next season because this club and these players deserve more titles.

"It’s special, because my first year here in England is not easy to be accustomed to English football but I think I manage a great group of players, a great institution, and our great fans."

Kompany, who settled any lingering nerves by scoring his side's second goal shortly after half-time, backed up his manager's message and vowed to turn City into a "big" club.

"We're building a club, not just a team that wins trophies every now and again, we're building a club," he said. 

"The past is the past but surely we'll have our place in the future. That's why I'm excited to be here, that's why every single year I have a feeling that we need to be better, and next year we have to be even better. 

"This has to transpire through to the whole club. If we want to be a big club then this should be one of so many. It will take a lot of work but people are ready for it."

Kompany also insisted that he is realising his chilhood dreams as City captain: "The way we finished this season is a credit to how we've always prepared, every single game and how we've always believed in ourselves. [I am] extremely happy and this is for the fans. 

"Forget about the money, forget about everything. As a kid you grow up and all your dream of is playing games, winning games and lifting trophies. That's what I've dreamed of. Not the rest, I've dreamed of lifting trophies. I feel like I'm achieving that dream by doing this."

Premier League: Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini expects title after Aston Villa win

Manuel Pellegrini is confident Manchester City will become Premier League champions after beating Aston Villa 4-0.

It took City until the 64th minute to break the deadlock at the Etihad Stadium but they ran out convincing winners as Edin Dzeko struck twice and then Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure netted late on.

The result leaves City two points ahead of Liverpool ahead of their final game of the season, against West Ham United on Sunday, and a draw will be enough due to their superior goal difference.

While he is refusing to get carried away, Pellegrini is now allowing himself to think about winning the title.

He said: "Now we can talk about the title because if we win the next game we are going to win the title.

"We could not do the same before this game because we had to beat Aston Villa.


Pellegrini - Job not done
"Of course I expect to win the title because now we are top of the table.

"It has been a strange season maybe because we were never top of the table.

"Everyone said we were favourites but we were nine points behind Liverpool and eight points behind Chelsea.

"We had three games in hand but we must win all those games. Now we are top of the table and I hope we are not going to lose next Sunday."

Pellegrini says that he urged his men at half-time to keep their patience and not become frustrated at having to play against a defensive-minded Villa side.

"It was a very big test because it was not an easy game. We know that we had to win and I think the team played very, very well," he told Sky Sports.

"We were very patient in the first half. They had just one chance to score.

"It is not easy to play against a team with 10 defenders but I spoke to the players and told them to continue the way they were going because I thought we were doing very well.


Man City on the brink
"I was absolutely sure that we were going to score and now we have to win our last game to win the title."

City needed two late goals against Queens Park Rangers to clinch the title in 2012 but Pellegrini is hopeful that his side will not endure quite such an anxious afternoon against West Ham before becoming champions.

He is aware that no opponent can be taken for granted but says it is a very different situation.

"I didn't see the game. It was another team playing another way so I don't think about that," he explained.

"QPR against Manchester City or Crystal Palace against Liverpool, with so many years in football you know that every game counts and every team can win any game.

"I think that now it is another team and another way of managing the team."