Real Madrid usually get what they want; whether it is signing the world's best players, or winning the biggest trophies. But as their dismal season threatens to come to a shuddering halt against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal this week, it is likely to trigger a manager search that will satisfy nobody at the world's biggest club.
Madrid are nine points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 against second-tier Albacete. If they fail to overturn a 2-1 deficit away at Bayern on Wednesday, they will face a second successive season without a major trophy, and Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso as coach in January, can forget about remaining in post beyond the summer.