Gareth Bale insists he is committed to staying at Real Madrid, despite a disappointing season in which the club look likely to win no major honours.
The Welsh international has been the subject of significant transfer speculation amid rumours that he is an isolated member of an unhappy dressing room in Madrid.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport in the wake of Madrid’s Champions League exit at the hands of Juventus, Bale said: "It’s one of them nights, sometimes it doesn’t happen. As long as you are there to keep trying you’ve always got a chance but obviously for us tonight, [we were] very unlucky and disappointed not to get to the final."
Madrid got off the to the perfect start with Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty putting them in front in the tie, but Alvaro Morato’s equaliser and a stout defensive display saw Bale’s side dumped out of the competition, as Juventus advanced to face Barcelona in the final on 6 June.
Bale said: "It was the start we wanted, we wanted to get an early goal. Unfortunately, we conceded one which obviously dented the confidence. Credit to the lads we pushed to get a second goal but it wasn’t to be."
Barcelona need one win from their last two games to secure the title but Bale isn't ready to throw in the towel.
“We have to fight back," he said. "Until the league is mathematically impossible we’ll still fight for that and we’ll just have to regroup, learn from this season and make ourself stronger for next.”
The former Spurs star remains committed to Madrid, though rumours continue to circulate that he will return to the Premier League.
Asked whether he would stay in Spain next season, the 25-year-old added: “I see no reason why not. Just keep playing my football, keep concentrating on my football whatever anyone else says.”
"There have been some ups and downs but personally I think I've played well," he later told Sky Sports of his season.
"I've maybe not scored as many important chances as I'd like but my general play has been good. My finishing is not as good and that's something to work on for next year.
"What doesn't kill me makes me stronger and I'll learn from this season and take it on."
Bale had Madrid's first chance of the night, heading over after just 35 seconds, and then five in the second half but never managed to test Gianluigi Buffon with a shot on target.
"I was unlucky not to grab one," he said.
"As long as I keep trying, usually one goes in. Unfortunately it didn't happen tonight and you move on."
His best chance was a back-post header which he sent over from point-blank range.
"I got a slight touch (from a defender) and I couldn't get over the ball," he said. "It's one of those things that happen in football and you move on."
