Monday 25 April 2016 19:59, UK
Gareth Bale says he has never had an argument with his Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and that both have clearly-defined roles laid out by coach Zinedine Zidane.
In an exclusive interview with The Times, Bale spoke about his relationship with Ronaldo and how the Portuguese winger's "determination" is often misunderstood.
Bale also said Ronaldo is relishing the prospect of returning to Manchester for Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first leg against City on Tuesday night, and is confident the player can thrive off the abuse he will inevitably receive from the crowd.
He's a very passionate person on the pitch - everyone knows that. He's very determined. People sometimes seem to take that the wrong way. We haven't had a problem.
"He speaks English, which helped me when I first got here," said Bale. "We also have that link from the Premier League. We get on really well.
"The press make a lot of things that maybe we don't but we get on fine. We've never had a problem. I've never had an argument with him.
"He's a very, very passionate person on the pitch - everyone knows that. He's very determined. People sometimes seem to take that the wrong way. We haven't had a problem."
In terms of the pair's instructions from Zidane, Bale said: "It's on the board. Free-kicks left side him, free-kicks right side me. Every game, so we know exactly what's what."
After spending six seasons at Manchester United, Ronaldo is likely to be the focus of the City supporters' attentions on Tuesday night but Bale says all the Real players are used to such treatment because they receive it at the majority of La Liga grounds.
And he warned the players will not buckle under any barracking as they bid to see off City and take a step closer to an 11th European title.
"I was chatting to him about that," said Bale. "He's going to get a lot of abuse. He thrives on it. That's exactly what he said. It's normal for him wherever he goes.
"It's normal for most of us - wherever we go, we get booed and whistled. We thrive on things like that. It helps us a bit more. We like to keep people quiet."
