Classy Welshman was first to console teary Reds blunder keeper at full-time in Kiev last season
GARETH BALE told Loris Karius to "keep your head up" after his Champions League final clanger.
The Liverpool keeper - now on loan at Besiktas - was left in tears at the final whistle in Kiev after gifting Real Madrid two goals in the 3-1 defeat in May.
Jurgen Klopp's men were slammed for not being first to console Karius - while classy Bale immediately walked over to the devastated German.
The Wales winger, 29, told : "I just said, 'Keep your head up'.
"Mistakes happen. It's just unfortunate it's in a final. Yes, I suppose it's not quite as bad as it looked but I suppose he should save it."
It was Bale's second goal of the game - and Real's third - which caught Karius off guard and sealed Liverpool's fate.
Karius punched Bale's shot straight into his own net under no pressure.
But Bale reckons many have underestimated his strike.
He said: "I always try to put a bit of wobble on the ball.
"It's the same with free-kicks. You try to make it more difficult because if it doesn't go in the corner I always give them a problem if it's right down their throat."
Another shot he believes was criminally overlooked was his first, an overhead kick which sent Real 2-1 ahead.
The wondergoal was not even an option in a Uefa poll of the top ten Champions League strikes of the season.
Former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo was instead deemed to have scored the best goal for his stunning overhead kick against Juventus.
Bale fumed: "I don't know how it wasn't on that list!
"I want to know who is on the panel because they want to be sacked."
