Former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro has defended Zinedine Zidane and called for the club to be sensible as the pressure grows on the manager.
Zidane has led Real to consecutive Champions League wins over the last two seasons, becoming the first club to manage that feat, and also captured the La Liga title in 2016-17.
But the team have struggled this season, despite winning the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup and the Supercopa de Espana.
They are already 16 points behind bitter rivals Barcelona, who lead the La Liga table.
And after a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against Numancia on Wednesday, the questions over Zidane's future have grown. But Hierro has thrown his support behind the beleaguered boss.
'We have to be sensible,' Hierro told EFE. 'We are in January and it is the same coach and almost the same players who won eight titles in the last two years.
"Real Madrid means that you have to win every game, being second is not worth it."
"However, we have to be calm and use good sense."
"One gets used to winning everything, but when that isn't the case, it's not a good enough reason to want him out."
"We have to be smart in our judgement because they are the same players, the same trainer and the same philosophy."