Tottenham winger Gareth Bale: There is a lot more to come from me and I want to be as good as Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo

EPL : Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (Getty Images)

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Tottenham starlet Gareth Bale claims there is still more to come from him, despite asserting he is currently playing at a career best level.

The 21-year-old Welshman has received wide acclaim this year following a string of fine performances in the Champions League, including a hat-trick in Tottenham’s 4-3 away defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro.

The left-winger’s form has not only led to speculation linking him with Europe’s elite, but also to comparisons with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter who Bale is set to line-up against on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Real Madrid.

Speaking to The Sun, Bale said: “This is probably the best that I have played in my career but there is a lot more to come.

“I have a lot more to learn and I keep working hard in training and games, try things, and I just want to improve.

“There is everything to learn, a lot, too much to explain. There is a lot to learn. I am still young.

“If you look at the likes of Messi and Ronaldo those are the levels that you want to be getting to.”

Despite an initially unfulfilling start to his career at White Hart Lane, Bale has continued to go from strength to strength in a Spurs shirt, and quashed any suggestions that he is pushing for a move away from the club by signing a new four-year-contract last month.

“I have always believed in what I could do, I just needed to be given the chance to play week in week out at Tottenham,” he continued.

“I always believed that if did get that chance, I would improve as a player. If you play every week, there is no better way to learn than that. I have learn new things every week.

“I don’t really feel the weight of expectation. It’s just a part of growing up really.

“I went there at 17 and moving to London at that age is difficult. You just grow up and mature mentally so it was just a matter of time. That’s showing on the pitch now.”

Having already helped to overcome both AC Milan and Inter in the Champions League so far this season, Bale insists he will not be intimidated by facing Real Madrid.

“I am never daunted. I take everything as another game,” he said.

“One you step out onto the pitch you only think about giving 100 per cent, not where you are or who.

“Obviously Inter Milan and AC Milan  were big occasions but if you look at it, you can’t afford to dwell on things and get nervous as you will go in the wrong direction.”