5 ways Real Madrid can shake off their Bernabeu shackles

#3 Dealing with the weight of expectancy

Expectations are high at the Santiago Bernabeu

Three consecutive home games without a win has cost previous Real Madrid managers their jobs and players their place in the squad.

This is a club that takes no prisoners, and nothing but success is expected from one of the biggest and most decorated and celebrated institutions in the world.

The boos and whistles have already started, and nobody is safe from fan opinion when it comes to their side performing in front of their own fans.

It was quite clear as the second half wore on that the players were feeling the negative energy emitting down from every side of the stadium.

Zidane remained the same steely-eyed character as he stood on the touchline, when many of his predecessors would have hidden themselves away in the dugout and its protective covers of anonymity

Although his manner remained cool, calm and collected, this defeat would have eaten away at him inside, and having played in the environment under managers that have wilted under the same weight of expectancy, he would not have been oblivious to the anger raining down on his team.

Ultimately, he has the responsibility of putting things right, and he needs his players to stay focused in order for him to fix it.