All eyes on Pellegrini after Real`s Cup humiliation

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."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. Bureau Report