With Real Madrid top of LaLiga and snugly inside the crucial top eight positions of the UEFA Champions League ahead of their midweek fixture at Olympiacos , there should be absolutely no possibility of their manager Xabi Alonso being in a precarious position.

But, sadly, this is the most political, most unforgiving club anywhere in the world of football and, therefore, he is. And he'll know he is.

Imminent job loss? No, absolutely not. But there are wolves at the door and someone at his club is either encouraging, or allowing, them to snarl.

In Sunday's 2-2 draw at promoted Elche , Madrid were outplayed, trailed twice to goals from Madrid youth products ( Aleix Febas and Álvaro Rodríguez ) and only equalized, late on, thanks to a Jude Bellingham goal that should have b

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