Carlo Ancelotti Reportedly Heading for the Sack at Real Madrid

Real Madrid are "seriously" considering sacking Carlo Ancelotti, according to Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Los Blancos have won one of their last three matches, surrendering La Liga's top spot to Barcelona in the process. Ancelotti is struggling to find the right balance in the side's 4-3-3 formation, with 92.1 percent of 2,452 fans surveyed by AS wanting the manager to switch back to 4-4-2.

Balague suggested "the Real hierarchy are now seriously considering parting company with Ancelotti in the summer and I will be very surprised if he is there next season," per Sky Sports. He also believes such a decision was first considered prior to Ancelotti landing La Decima with victory in last season's Champions League:

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In fact, they (Madrid's board) were even thinking of getting rid of him last season, but (Sergio) Ramos’s 94th-minute equaliser in the Champions League final against Atletico changed their plans. However, if his header had gone just a centimetre another way, then Ancelotti would have been sacked. So that is still in the backs of the club’s mind.

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Madrid remain one of the most demanding clubs in the world, where coming second is often seen as failure. La Liga's title race could be decided by the time the Clasico concludes on Mar. 22, particularly if Barcelona grab victory at the Camp Nou. While Real are expected to challenge for the Champions League, remaining in the trophy hunt appears vital to Ancelotti's longevity.

The manager didn't seem fazed before Schalke's visit on Tuesday night, a European round-of-16 second leg encounter which begins with Madrid leading 2-0. Club president Florentino Perez is happy to offer Ancelotti support, as noted by the manager, per Nicholas Rigg of AS:

Balague's comments indicate Ancelotti is living on borrowed time following last season's success. How can you sack a manager who wins two trophies, including the Holy Grail of club football? The answer is you can't, not without serious questions being asked.

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Chelsea, Ancelotti's old side, went through the same process when Roberto Di Matteo led them to the European crown in 2012. Three months into the following season he was packing up his desk. If the board have a long-term plan in mind, sometimes managers can only keep the inevitable at arm's length for so long.

Di Matteo, now in charge of Schalke, told reporters Madrid can't do much better than Ancelotti ahead of Tuesday's kick-off, reported by Marca:

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Ancelotti is one of the best managers in the world. He's been very successful throughout his career, he has worked at very big clubs and he's won a lot of titles. He's very experienced. He's had a lot of success. He's coached big players. On a global level he's one of the best managers and it's difficult to think of anyone better.

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Ancelotti's long-term prospects may rest on getting Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale firing, a trio who cannot take the sole blame for Madrid's recent slump, according to B/R UK's Sam Tighe:

It's likely Ancelotti's future will be decided by the end of the month. Whether the final decision becomes public knowledge by then remains to be seen. Any slip-up will see the pressure multiply considerably, particularly if Madrid are beaten by Barca.

Balague indicates Ancelotti may be facing an impossible battle, however, meaning the deed may already be done.