Rafael Benitez’s future at Real Madrid is under threat following Saturday’s crushing 4-0 home defeat by Barcelona.
Chants for Benitez to be dismissed echoed around the Bernabeu following the game, accompanied by similar complaints against long-standing club president Florentino Perez.
Former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez is expected to remain in his post for the time being, but forthcoming trips to Shakhtar Donetsk (in the Champions League on Wednesday) and Eibar (in La Liga on Sunday) could prove decisive.
Real president Perez has called a news conference for 18:30 GMT following a board meeting.
However, former president Ramon Calderon does not think Benitez will be sacked.
“I’m sure he will back him because we are now in the 12th week of the season, we are already leaders in the Champions League group, we are going to be in the knockouts so it’s too early,” he told BBC World Service.
“For me, Benitez is not the one to blame. The problem is he came to substitute Carlo Ancelotti and nobody understood that. The players were backing Ancelotti at the end of last season and now he is doing what he can. He is doing his best.”
Why Benitez under pressure?
Saturday’s heavy defeat was not the first time that Benitez’s tactical approach has been questioned this season.
He was heavily criticised for adopting negative tactics in the 1-1 derby draw against Atletico Madrid last month, while a ragged performance in a 3-2 loss at Sevilla a fortnight ago was similarly scorned by fans and media.
After controversially replacing the popular Carlo Ancelotti in the summer, Benitez has been accused of failing to develop good relationships with his key players.
An article in Monday’s Marca newspaper claims the Real squad has lost all faith in Benitez.
Another report says players have taken to privately mocking their manager over his modest playing career and supposedly incomprehensible tactical instructions.
They refer to him as ‘number 10’ – traditionally the intelligent playmaker who can read the game and see the spaces, things they do not think Benitez can do.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with the coach is under particular scrutiny, with reports after Saturday’s game claiming the Portuguese forward has told Perez he wants to leave unless Benitez is sacked.
Like Ronaldo, Gareth Bale has been linked to Manchester United following a mixed start to the season, while Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez, Isco and Karim Benzema are also thought to be unhappy with their manager.
One consolation for Benitez is that much of the post-match criticism has focused on Perez, who has been accused by fans of meddling in team selection and constructing an imbalanced squad with his ‘Galacticos’ transfer policy.
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