All eyes on Pellegrini's future at Real Madrid

Manuel Pellegrini's future as Real Madrid coach was called into question on Wednesday after the big-spending side's 4-0 thrashing at third-tier Alcorcon in the first leg of their King's Cup tie.

The Segunda B side, from a satellite town to the south of Madrid, tore apart their near neighbours and could have won by a larger margin as they condemned the nine-times European champions to a third defeat in five outings on Tuesday.

"Go now!" sports daily Marca blared on Wednesday's front page, alongside a photograph of a shattered-looking Pellegrini.

Madrid-based AS led with "Ridicule of the century" while Barcelona-based Sport wrote: "This is the beginning of the end for Pellegrini."

After the game, Real's Chilean coach brushed away questions over whether he would consider resigning and club director general Jorge Valdano said it was important everyone stood together.

Team captain Raul echoed Valdano's calls.

"We win and we lose together so absolutely everyone is to blame," the striker told reporters.

"The display we put on isn't the one the club deserves, or one that sits well with our history. We ask for forgiveness and remind people the tie isn't over yet.

"If there is a club that knows about comebacks it is Real Madrid."

MOTIVATION QUESTIONED

Daily El Mundo spread the blame beyond Pellegrini and questioned the motivation of Real's players saying: "None of them were able to replicate the exceptional work of Alcorcon: the commitment, the pressuring, the pace and the goals.

"Alcorcon showed all the properties a fan would want to see in their team."

The return leg is at the Bernabeu in two weeks and Alcorcon coach Juan Antonio Anquela -- who was being dubbed 'Anqueloti' in the media -- fought to keep the result in perspective while fans celebrated on the pitch outside.

"We haven't achieved anything yet. Real are capable of putting five past anyone," he told reporters.

Pellegrini does not have the luxury of time to put things right. He faces a flurry of high-profile matches before trying to prevent a second consecutive Cup exit to a Segunda B side in the Cup.

Real were embarrassed by Real Union in the last season's competition.

He has a second city derby at home to Getafe in La Liga on Saturday, a trip to AC Milan in the Champions League next Tuesday, and then a third local derby at Atletico Madrid in the league.

Ronaldo to miss Real Madrid's trip to AC Milan

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit in time for Real Madrid's trip to AC Milan in the Champions League next week, the La Liga club said on Wednesday.

The Portuguese forward, who has been out since aggravating an injury to his right ankle while on international duty three weeks ago, had been targeting a return for the trip to Italy.

Ronaldo will undergo another test in a week's time, Real said in a statement on their website (www.realmadrid.com).

Olympique Marseille's Souleymane Diawara caught Ronaldo's ankle during his side's 3-0 Champions League defeat at the Bernabeu on Sept. 30.

Pellegrini's side, who had won every match this season before Ronaldo's injury, have since slumped to three defeats, a draw and only one victory in all competitions.

Real, level on six points with Champions League Group C leaders Milan after three games, travel to the San Siro next Tuesday.