Real Madrid legend Paco Gento has heaped praise on Gareth Bale after his winning goal in the Copa del Rey final. Bale scored a superb individual effort for Real's 2-1 win over Barcelona in midweek.
Gento told Marca: "Well that I had done the same thing a few times myself! Quite a few... Some family members and friends called me. 'You used to do that, Paco', they said... And they're right, I did - above all when I saw a defender coming at me from the front or sides.
"I used to send the ball forward and run after it so that I wouldn't be caught. It was the best way to avoid being taken out. I also used to have long runs with a defender at my side, as Bale did with Bartra. It was fabulous for how it was done, for when it was done, because it ended in a goal and because it won us the match."
He added: "We are similar. Maybe he is physically stronger. More corpulent. But I also had that power and when I got into first gear, then second, then third up to top, just like Bale does now..."
