Zinedine Zidane said last week he wants to stay at Real Madrid but how welcome his wishes are will depend on the team's Champions League tie against Juventus.
Real face Zidane's former club in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday, knowing their season, and perhaps the Frenchman's future as coach, hinges on reaching the last four.
It was the same in the previous round against Paris Saint-Germain. Real's limp La Liga title defence, combined with their early exit from the Copa del Rey, means they now have only one shot at winning a major trophy this term.
The mood in Madrid, however, is upbeat. Real have won 10 out of their last 11 matches, a run that has seen them brush aside PSG and move to within four points of second-placed Atletico Madrid in the league. They have scored 36 goals in that period, at an average of just over three a game.
"The match comes at a good time for us," Real forward Lucas Vazquez said. "We have been doing things well for the last few months, playing better, more goals, it's a good moment and now we have to try to take advantage of it in this tie."
"We have the ambition to beat one of the best teams in the world, Real Madrid," coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "It will be a great game, but our priority remains Serie A. We will fight against Real Madrid with realism and ambition."
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content