Xabi Alonso will get at least one more game in charge of Real Madrid but a defeat against Alaves at the weekend could be the final nail in the coffin.
The Spaniard is under huge pressure following another defeat at home to Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Reports in Spain claimed Alonso could be sacked if his side lost against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Rodrygo fired Los Blancos ahead on 28 minutes before Nico O’Reilly and an Erling Haaland penalty turned the contest around before half-time.
The result strengthened Manchester City’s bid to finish in the top eight as they take fourth spot, while Real Madrid sit a point behind in seventh.
Xabi Alonso safe at Real Madrid for now
Alonso will be given the game against Alaves on Sunday evening, but a defeat will leave the board with little choice but to swing the axe.
The loss against Man City was their second on the bounce after his side were booed and jeered off after a 2-0 home loss to Celta Vigo.
They’ve also won just two of their last eight matches after previously winning 13 from their first 14 games.
There is sympathy from some quarters in Madrid for Alonso, who believes the team are struggling to follow his instructions.
Alonso is also getting the best out of Kylian Mbappe, who is in red-hot form. The Frenchman has scored 26 goals across 24 games in all competitions.
According to Marca football journalist Juan Castro, one of the main reasons why Alonso remains in a job is because there is a lack of options to replace him.
The betting markets have Zinedine Zidane favourite to return for a third time, with Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery’s names also in contention.
He told BBC 5Live: “It is true that it was not a ridiculous defeat because they competed, but another defeat at home, another defeat in a row. It is quite difficult for a coach to hold this.
“We will see what happens, but now the ambience in the Bernabeu is focusing on Xabi Alonso. That is the truth. We will see what is going on, but now I am 100% pessimistic.
“I don’t think Perez wants this kind of manager. What Perez doesn’t accept in any case is defeat. You don’t have so many options to replace Xabi.
“It is very easy to say Xabi will be sacked or he is in danger, but another thing is to find the correct replacement in December.”
Jude Bellingham backs Xabi Alonso
A dejected Jude Bellingham leapt to the defence of his manager after the full-time whistle by saying no one in the side has “down tooled.”
He said: “The manager’s been great. I personally have a great relationship with him, a lot of the lads do as well.
“After the first run of games, we had some really great conversations internally, and we felt we were on the back side of that form. In the past couple of games we let ourselves down again.
“No one’s downing tools, no one’s complaining and moaning thinking the season is over.”
