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Xabi Alonso is hanging on by a thread at Real Madrid after his side lost 2-1 at the Bernabeu against Manchester City on Wednesday, leaving it level on points with Liverpool, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid should still be confident of making the top eight in the Champions League group phase, which ensures progression to the knockout phase without the need for a play-off. Meanwhile, domestically, it is four points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
But Alonso's team has lost twice this week — going down 2-0 at home to Celta Vigo a few days before the Manchester City defeat — and faces Deportivo Alaves next. A loss there, BBC Sport reports, could spell the end.
Despite the loss against Pep Guardiola's men, Real Madrid's players appeared to still be playing for their manager.
"The performance has been intense," Alonso said. "A professional Champions League-level game. They have given their best, so from my side, no complaints for anything. It is hard to take another defeat, but we tried until the end."
England international Jude Bellingham said live on TNT Sports that the squad is "100 percent" behind Alonso too.
"I personally have a great relationship with him, and a lot of the lads do as well," he added. "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."
Juan Castro, a soccer reporter for the Spanish outlet Marca, told BBC Radio 5 Live that he was less confident.
"I am very pessimistic," he said. "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 percent pessimistic.
"I don't think Perez wants this kind of manager. What Perez doesn't accept in any case is the defeat.
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"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."
At Liverpool, Arne Slot has been under pressure, but a win against Inter Milan could begin to turn the tide. The Reds take on Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
"Of course, there is a bond with my former club, but for now this is my place," Alonso said this week. "In the future, you never know what might happen."
Liverpool.com says: It does feel a distinct possibility that Alonso will end up at Anfield again one day. Right now, though, he still has the players onside at Real Madrid — and that is a hugely important factor. If that changes, he will be in trouble.
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