Real Madrid: Three reasons why Zinedine Zidane may be sacked before the end of the season

"I've been here as player and coach for 18 years, and there's going to be pressure. It's the pressure that, here, there's always going to be talk about 'We've got to change coach!' I don't feel undervalued because the past is the past. Football forgets what you've achieved and that's just life"

You'd be forgiven for feeling these are the words of a man on death row. They escaped the lips of a man heralded as a legend by club and country as a player. The same man who was heralded legendary again by said club as a manager.

Zinedine Zidane's second coming at Real Madrid as coach and manager has been far from spectacular. In fact many would argue, that the second coming is in danger of tarnishing his first. Incredible, by any standards, considering that he took just around three years to lead Real to three consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies.

There is a sense of anxiety in the air surrounding the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish giants have had a tough season and more since their last Champions League; a season and a half in which they are now seeing their third manager. The chances are that they may be seeing a fourth quite soon.

Zidane's position in the Real Madrid hot-seat at present is precarious. A multitude of reasons are contributing to this. Reasons which may seem important enough to sack the legend before the 2019-20 season ends. The following are three reasons why this may happen.

#1 Poor results

Real Madrid CF v Real Valladolid CF - La Liga

It isn't like Real Madrid are down in the relegation zone, but the tension amongst fans, in the boardroom and even the dressing room is palpable. The club spent heavily in the summer to kickstart a phase of rebuilding. They stand behind Barcelona in the La Liga table in second place by only a point. Something which doesn't come across as alarming.

However, Madrid have won only five of their nine La Liga games which is considered below par by many. And its not even the league standing or the number of games won that makes for poor reading for Madridistas as much as the manner of the losses, draws and the teams some of these results have been suffered to, does.

Real have drawn to the likes of Valladolid and lost to the likes of Mallorca. They barely managed to keep Levante at bay, were given a bit of a scare by Granada and beat Sevilla rather unconvincingly by a goal.

And this is just in La Liga! In the UEFA Champions League, Zidane's side were thrashed 3-0 by Paris St Germain in Paris and Club Brugge scored twice at the Bernabeu before Zidane's men scraped back to tie the game and settle for a draw. Even against Galatasaray, Real were not convincing as they managed to win by a solitary goal.

Previous managers have been fired for less and a lot of people in the stands as well as in the boardroom are grumbling about the results. Many were of the opinion that had Zidane's side not won at Galatasaray, he would have lost his job that night.

What would one make of the statistic that Zidane in his second coming has a worse win rate than Santiago Solari, the man he replaced? A man walking on a tightrope, Zidane would need a series of wins to make sure he doesn't take a tumble!

Real went down to Mallorca im an insipid display.

Also check out: La liga table 2019-20 Champions League Schedule Champions league top scorers

#2 The struggle to get the best out of new signings

Real Madrid v Club Brugge KV: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Real Madrid did not hold back much this summer. They spent almost £275 million in the summer transfer window. A rebuild they was fashioned. Somewhat of a clearing out was commissioned with several fringe players ushered out and several ageing stars touted to leave. There was even a very public spat between Gareth Bale and Zidane as to how the latter felt the former should leave.

It was reported that Zidane had greater say in transfers as part of the negotiations to bring him back to Madrid a mere half year after he had initially resigned. So at his behest in came Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Rodrygo, all for big fees. Others came too. However, none of the big-fee signings seem to have done what was anticipated of them.

A quarter of the season is through and Hazard has barely set the world alight. Luka Jovic, who was touted as one of the most lethal finishers in Europe, has seemingly forgotten how to score. Zidane seems to have only recently noticed he has Ferland Mendy at his disposal. Militao and Rodrygo have hardly played too.

For a rebuild job Zidane seems more intent on playing the old guard more than most would like and the new signings who do play are not really showing any glimpse of the talent that got them there. In particular, there could be much made of the signing of Hazard who came in with a hefty price tag and a great reputation. The man they said would be the guy to replace Cristiano Ronaldo has barely been a shadow of the player he was at Chelsea.

This doesn't help Zidane's case considering the reported rift between Zidane and others in the club with regards to the signing of Paul Pogba who is sometimes deemed too expensive and inconsistent for Real. Zidane however is resisting the club's desire to sign a more consistent performer in Christian Eriksen instead insisting on his fellow Frenchman.

With Zidane not really showing promise at the task of rebuilding for which he is here, Real's boardroom may look to someone new to do what is needed and that too before the season ends.

Zidane reportedly wants Pogba at the club.

#3 The availability of two prime contenders to replace Zidane

As of now, in this point in time, if Zidane was to be sacked Real Madrid have two elite coaches readily available to take over should they so will it. That, in itself, would make a move from the Real Madrid boardroom to wield the axe more probable.

The two names in question are: Massimiliano Allegri and Jose Mourinho. Allegri stepped down as manager at Juventus, with the intention of taking a sabbatical. Before that decision he took Juventus to series of Scudetti and also delivered some of Juventus' finest European campaigns, albeit falling short of winning the trophy. A tactical master and a man with enough experience and fortitude to take up the big job at Real, Allegri would probably be willing to take over at Madrid should they approach him. Having an elite manager available in the middle of a season is a rarity. Florentino Perez has a choice between two.

Jose Mourinho has presided over one of Real's more controversial eras as a bunch of Real Madrid's core team disliked him. However, Perez has always liked the 'Special One'. Reports recently in the Spanish media suggested that Florentino could turn to the serial winner Mourinho to take over for a second time.

This time, with a rebuild in the works, Mourinho will have a new core of players to work with and will be allowed to add more to the squad. The old guard of players will leave in due course and Jose should have lesser mutiny to deal with as well.

With both options open to Perez, you could imagine a couple of more bad results leading him to pulling the trigger on Zidane. Is it a matter of time now?

Edited by S Chowdhury