The Italian coach is likely to be relieved of his duties unless Madrid wins another trophy this season. Two Goal writers go head to head on the issue.

NO ONE AVAILABLE HAS A BETTER PEDIGREE THAN ANCELOTTI



The pressure is truly on Carlo Ancelotti. With Barcelona the favorite to win La Liga, the Champions League now takes on added importance for Real Madrid.As recently as December, the Blancos had won 22 games in succession and looked on course for an historic season - having already clinched the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.But Madrid has suffered an alarming downturn in form in 2015, losing top spot in the Primera Division and very nearly suffering a humiliating Champions League exit to Schalke in the last 16, losing 4-3 at home in the second leg after winning 2-0 away.Ancelotti was booed off the pitch that night, and the tension has increased since Madrid lost the Clasico to Barcelona, 2-1. Inevitably, the ex-AC Milan boss' future has come under scrutiny and sources indicate to Goal International that unless Madrid either retains the Champions League or overhauls Barca's lead in La Liga, then Ancelotti is likely to be sacked in June. Ahead of Tuesday's pivotal Champions League quarterfinal first leg clash against local rivals Atletico on Tuesday, two Goal writers debate Ancelotti's future regardless of whether he wins another trophy. You can leave a comment and vote in our poll at the bottom of the page.Real Madrid does not tend to worry about the next move if the current coach isn’t meeting the required standard. But even considering the club's trigger-happy nature, the hierarchy must reach the correct conclusion – that Carlo Ancelotti is as capable as anyone available to take this team forward.Generally there tends to be a plethora of viable candidates for the hottest seat in football if word gets around that a change could be afoot. In recent years, Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez to name only two have been incessantly linked with the post, with both men bringing very different attributes to the role.But in the current climate there isn’t a single conceivable option with a superior pedigree to Ancelotti. In England, managers have either already been tried (Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho) or don’t have the experience to manage in Spain. In Germany, Pep Guardiola certainly won’t be residing in Madrid any time soon, while at Borussia Dortmund Jurgen Klopp’s stock has fallen considerably following a poor campaign.In Italy, the aforementioned Benitez certainly would be interested, but Napoli’s inconsistent season rules him out, while elsewhere in Spain there are excellent emerging coaches such as Marcelino at Villarreal and Unai Emery at Sevilla, but neither are close to being ready for the scrutiny of the Santiago Bernabeu. Finally, with Euro 2016 around the corner, prominent international figures won’t be leaving their posts until next summer.So where does that leave Madrid? It only leaves Zinedine Zidane, of course. Former midfielder Michel has stated his belief that ‘the club are preparing for Zidane’ but also feels Ancelotti is ‘an ideal coach for Real Madrid.’ Zidane, with his intelligence and poise, is unquestionably a coach in the making, but he simply isn’t ready.The politics and background shenanigans require subtle maneuvering and are as important as putting out a team on the pitch. The Frenchman is revered and is allowed freedom to operate at the moment, but all that changes when results are expected. Madrid might crave its own Guardiola, its own progressive product, but at the same time it must not destroy its protégé before he is in a position to handle everything that comes with directing the world’s biggest club.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OR BUST FOR CARLO - LIKE LAST SEASON



Just like in his time at Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti seems to be suffering from second season syndrome. The Italian coach led Real Madrid to four trophies in a calendar year for the first time in the club's history - but past glories mean little when it comes to job security at the Santiago Bernabeu.



Ancelotti's poor league record is under scutiny once again and, even though Madrid is now back to two points behind Barcelona with seven rounds remaining in La Liga, the Catalans remain the clear favorites for a Primera Division title that just more than a month ago looked to be heading back to the Bernabeu.



Press pressure on Ancelotti is mounting and, as things stand, La Liga may not be enough to keep him in a job next season - just as winning only the Copa del Rey would have been insufficient last season in the eyes of president Florentino Perez.



The club chief came out to rubbish claims last month that Ancelotti would be out of a job if he lost the Clasico, but he refused to confirm when pressed repeatedly whether the Italian would still be around in 2015-16.



Perez is embarrassed about Madrid's poor recent record against Atletico and had hoped last season's Decima triumph would lead to a period of dominance for Real.



That hasn't happened and, with the Madrid media on the coach's back, the Italian's position looks likely to become untenable unless he can deliver a second successive Champions League crown.



When the press campaigns commence, the writing is invariably on the wall and Ancelotti will be better off out of it, his head held high and his dignity intact after leading the club to its Decima dream - as much an obsession as an objective in the 12 years since Madrid's previous Champions League title in 2002.



What next for Real if Ancelotti does go? That's a problem for Perez to solve. But if Ancelotti fails to deliver the Champions League - and certainly if Madrid misses out to Atletico in the quarterfinals - it is extremely difficult to imagine he will still be at the club next season.



And however much he deserves to stay after the successes in his first 12 months (winning the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup), there will be no point because the pressure from the Madrid media will be too intense and he will not be allowed to work in peace.



So it's La Undecima or bust for Ancelotti at Real Madrid - however unfair that may seem.

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