Pellegrini could be Alcor-gone

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is in real trouble after his Galacticos slumped to a sensational 4-0 defeat to a third tier side Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey – and it looks like Bernabeu chiefs could be looking for their fifth manager in just over three years shortly.

Minus their two most expensive signings, Ronaldo and Kaka, Real were 3-0 down at half-time and failed to spark a second-half revival.

The embarrassment forced both Pellegrini and Madrid’s director general Jorge Valdano to issue public apologies – with the former insisting that he did not fear for his job.

But they are notoriously impatient at Real and no manager since Vicente del Bosque, who left in June 2003, has lasted more than 17 months in the hotseat.

Carlos Queiroz (June 03 – May 04), Jose Antonio Camacho (June – July 04), Mariano Garcia Remon (July 04 – December 04), Vanderlei Luxemburgo (December 04 – December 05), Juan Ramon Lopez (December 05 – July 06),  Fabio Capello (July 06 – June 07), Bernd Schuster (July 07 – December 08) and Juande Ramos (December 08 – June 09) have all had a go.

Queiroz landed a Spanish Super Cup, Capello a league title, and Schuster a league and Super Cup double.

But with one win in his last league, cup and Champions League games, time could well be running out for Pellegrini, whose spell kicked-off with a less than impressive 1-0 friendly win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.

To put their most recent result in context, Alcorcon, only earlier this month, lost 2-1 at home to Atletico Madrid – and it wasn’t to their first team, but the reserve side of Real’s city rivals – in a Segunda Division B match.

There are rumours in Madrid that failure to win against Getafe could cost the Chilean his job – while a win may only postpone discussions on his future until after their Champions League match away to AC Milan.

Real’s rivals Barcelona are in action tonight and they won’t suffer the same fortune as Real – Barca are 2/9 to win away to Cultural Leonesa, who play in the same division as Alcorcon.

Closer to home and Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has named a very weakened team for the visit of Bolton – and with odds of 4/1 for the game to still be tied after 90 minutes, that looks a decent bet.

Categories: Soccer