Zen Zidane ready to pay price of Clasico defeat

Only at Real Madrid could the manager be potentially under pressure for his job at the end of a week which began with the team returning home as world champions.

Last Saturday’s Club World Cup victory was an eighth trophy in less than two years as Madrid coach for Zinedine Zidane, with successes including the first back-to-back Champions League titles of the modern era, and the club’s first La Liga and European Cup double since 1958.

But the Bernabeu stands have been restless through recent months, as their side have fallen 11 points adrift of leaders Barcelona in the La Liga title race, finished behind Tottenham in their Champions League group, and skirted with humiliation in both the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.