Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals 3 Things Real Madrid Lack, Praises Gareth Bale

Cristiano Ronaldo has said Real Madrid need to add "continuity, luck, ambition" to their game following their 2-0 win over AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday and praised Gareth Bale for his performance on his successful return to action following injury.

According to Sport, he told the UEFA website: "We know the quarter and semi-finals are going to be much more difficult. We're still lacking a lot. We're lacking continuity, luck, ambition... but if we continue like this, I think we're on the right path."

Per AS, he said of the Welshman: "Bale played really well considering he had been out of action for so long. I thought Lucas Vazquez was great too. He’s a great asset for the team, playing well and fighting when he gets a chance."

Ronaldo recently generated controversy by criticising his team-mates following Real's 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, saying: "If we were all at my level maybe we would be leaders," per BBC Sport.

However, despite Sport's assertion that his latest comments signal he "has done it again," this time it appears he has simply made a frank and honest assessment of the team's shortcomings. 

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Los Blancos are 12 points behind La Liga table-toppers Barcelona and could easily finish behind Atletico Madrid, whom they are four points behind, as they have no more opportunities to take points off them.

Their failure to convince against the biggest sides they've faced this season—their two domestic rivals and Paris Saint-Germain—gives little confidence they can lift the only remaining piece of silverware they can win, the Champions League.

Bleacher Report UK's Karl Matchett believes there are four European sides who are "absolutely, definitely" better than Real—the two teams ahead of them in La Liga along with Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Matchett highlighted the problems in their side that could prove costly should they face any of those sides:

Further, he believes Los Blancos could easily have lost to Roma on Tuesday and are highly fortunate to have only tasted defeat once under Zinedine Zidane:

Indeed, for as many excellent, high-scoring performances Madrid have produced against less illustrious opposition this season, Ronaldo is right to acknowledge they are still very much a work in progress.

As for Bale, there has been speculation regarding the pair's relationship ever since the winger arrived at the Bernabeu, though in criticising his team-mates following the derby defeat, Ronaldo named the Welshman as one of the club's best players.

The 26-year-old returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines in Real's 7-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday and scored in his brief cameo before playing for an hour against Roma.

Football writer Andrew Gaffney gave his take on Bale's hard-working performance:

For Real to improve as Ronaldo wishes, it's imperative Bale stays fit for the remainder of the season.

The Wales international has notched an impressive 14 goals and 11 assists in just 19 outings in this campaign, and with a run in the team, he can help restore the qualities Madrid lack.