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Gareth Bale: Real Madrid's Champions League triumph an 'incredible scene'

Gareth Bale described Real Madrid's 4-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus as "incredible" after battling back from injury to play in his hometown of Cardiff.

Madrid became the first team to successfully defend the Champions League after beating Juve on Saturday, with a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as goals from Casemiro and Marco Asensio, securing them a 12th European Cup in total.

Wales international Bale had been out since April with an ankle injury but returned to contribute from the bench at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and he was delighted to be a part of the action.

"What an incredible scene. The city has done an immaculate job in hosting a great event," Bale told BT Sport.

"To win this at home is a great feeling. It's been a hard season, I've worked tirelessly to get fit and these are your rewards.

"We have made history, we'll enjoy this moment now. We needed confidence at half-time, and we had to take our chances which we did. I was happy to get on."

Los Blancos president Florentino said all Madrid fans should be thankful for what manager Zinedine Zidane has done in his short time as coach.

"Zidane was the best when he came in 2001 [as a player], and he is the best now [as a coach]," he said. "All Madridistas should be thankful to him.

"Just 17 months and look what he has done? He has won everything. We will now talk with Zizou, who directs this orchestra so well, about next season. And there will be no problems."

Real's World Cup-winning midfielder Toni Kroos revealed he did not expect to defend the trophy successfully.

The 27-year-old said: "I didn't expect it would be possible to defend this title as it's so difficult to win it once. But to do it twice in a row is unbelievable.

"To win it three times in the last four years means a lot. It means it's not only a good team on the pitch but off the pitch. It's like that and I'm happy to be part of the team.

"We knew that Juventus are an unbelievably good defending team. Before today they only had [let in] three goals [in the competition] and today four in one game. It shows our quality.''

Club captain Sergio Ramos said he was proud of how a harmonious dressing room had "kept their date with history" and won what is the club's first European Cup and La Liga double since 1958.

"We are tremendously proud of this team, and this institution," Ramos said. "We had a date with history and were really looking forward to it. For 59 years we had not achieved the double, and nobody had ever won two Champions Leagues in a row.

"We were able to keep a dressing room without any jealousies and that was key. Success does not come by coincidence. We are a great group, headed by a great coach in Zidane. Three Champions Leagues in four years is crazy."

Isco, who started for Real Madrid ahead of hometown hero Bale, reiterated his desire to stay at Real after Saturday's triumph.

"I hope to sign new contract soon. There is no better place to play, or to be. This is the best club in the world," he told AS.

"If I know the year will end like this, I would take it every season. It has been an unforgettable night. This is something I never dreamed of, three Champions Leagues in the four years I have been here.

"And all thanks to the family that this team has formed."

Alvaro Morata, an 89th-minute substitute in Saturday's final, refused to be drawn into comments on his future, with rumours of interest from Italian giants AC Milan and Manchester United.

"I don't know, it does not depend so much on me," Morata told AS. "I am happy here. My dream is to be here, we have just won the Champions League. I am not thinking about anything else other than celebrating it.

"This is a team, we are more than 20 players, we all win together and all lose together. You must think in individual terms. If I thought like that I would have focused on playing tennis.

"The only thing I have done is to play, to train and enjoy being with my teammates It does not depend on me.

"How am I going to be disappointed if we have just won the Champions League. This is amazing. It would be selfish to think anything else."