Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa is under immense pressure after the 1-0 defeat to Getafe, which widened the gap with Barcelona to four points in the La Liga title race.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Arbeloa may not last until the end of the season and is likely to be sacked before the upcoming international break at the end of March.
Arbeloa has lost the confidence of a large number of players, and it is now widely believed that the task of coaching Real Madrid is beyond his current capabilities, especially tactically.
While Florentino Pérez’s administration publicly expresses its confidence in Arbeloa and supports him, the reality is that they will give him one last chance to salvage the situation, otherwise, dismissal will be his inevitable fate.
The latest report indicates that elimination from the Champions League Round of 16 against Manchester City would be the red line, and in that case, Pérez would be forced to sacrifice Arbeloa immediately.
If Arbeloa wants to stay until the end of the season, he must reach the Champions League quarterfinals and perform well. A loss against City, and perhaps any other defeat in La Liga, would end his time at the Santiago Bernabéu less than two months after his appointment.
Arbeloa was appointed on January 13th, succeeding Xabi Alonso. Since then, he has managed Real Madrid in 12 matches, winning 8 and losing 4.
