Hot Seat Watch for World Football Players, Coaches After Weekend April 11-14
Our regular hot-seat watch is back and this week features a number of managers whose slumps have continued from last time out, as well as some new faces from both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
We've taken a look at those managers who have suffered with results of late, dropping down the table or in danger of not achieving their aims, as well as players who have seen bad press or poor form affect them.
This is no call for sackings or being dropped, just keeping an eye on those who need to improve fast as the season draws to a close.
Manuel Pellegrini
1 of 8
Manchester City continue to lurch from one poor result to the next, with a derby defeat the most painfully obvious yet of their deficiencies at the end of this season.
The Citizens have slumped to fourth place, well out of the title race in the Premier League, after losing 4-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It's three defeats in four now for Pellegrini and City, whose season is already all but over.
Roberto Mancini
2 of 8
Over in Italy, Roberto Mancini continues to make no impact on Serie A with his Inter Milan team.
Despite Inter picking up a 3-0 win this weekend over strugglers near the foot of the table Hellas Verona, the team are not playing well as a unit, struggle to have any real identity and are barely in the top half, 10th place. This is all despite Mancini having ample time to turn things around.
Next up is the Milan derby.
Marcelo Bielsa
3 of 8
Marseille's title challenge for Ligue 1 appears to be over as their horrid run of form continues—but now Marcelo Bielsa sees his team in danger of not even qualifying for the Champions League next term.
A 1-0 loss to Bordeaux means it is just two wins in 10 matches for OM, who have slipped to fourth in the table as a result—into a Europa League berth instead.
A fantastic start to the season is in danger of being rendered totally pointless unless Bielsa can pick his team up and turn things around fast.
John Carver
4 of 8
Back to the Premier League, and it's five straight losses now for Newcastle United and John Carver, after his side were soundly beaten 2-0 by Liverpool on Monday night.
Carver's team were easily torn apart in the opening stages of the match, with little organisation on show and no outlet for the team. Newcastle were lucky not to be three or four goals down in the opening half-hour.
A mini-revival either side of the break was nowhere near enough to warrant any points and Newcastle are slipping dangerously close to the relegation fight now, having dropped to 13th.
Raheem Sterling
5 of 8
From the same game, Liverpool's young forward Raheem Sterling netted the opening goal of the game and put in a generally impressive performance—but should have added to his tally after missing at least two golden chances to score later in the game.
However, away from the pitch Sterling has picked up some bad press recently over his contract negotiations and an interview done without club approval, while instances in social settings have also caused unrest.
BBC Sport report Bobby Barnes of the PFA as saying: "Nobody would condone the use of these types of substances, whether legal or otherwise, as footballers are seen as role models. But many of us look back at things we did in our teens and early 20s and wish we hadn't done them. I am sure this will be a minor blip on his path to a fantastic career."
Rudi Garcia
6 of 8
In Italy, AS Roma's time as the second club in Serie A appears to be over, with Rudi Garcia's team slipping to third in the table after a 1-1 draw at Torino.
A poor run and too many draws for Roma meant their title challenge was over long ago, but the drop from second means no automatic Champions League qualification for next season unless they can pick up form again over the remaining games.
They play Atalanta at home next week.
Carlos Sanchez
7 of 8
Aston Villa have managed to eke their way from danger in the Premier League of late, taking wins over Sunderland and, more recently, Tottenham Hotspur, but not all their players have been on an upward trend with their form.
Carlos Sanchez has been able to bring a defensive presence and solidity to the Villa midfield—but has also been a key assister of chances for the opposition, unfortunately.
Against QPR in particular he gifted a number of chances to Charlie Austin and then, against Spurs, he managed to scythe down Danny Rose to earn himself a red card and a suspension. With Ashley Westwood back from fitness and the team on the up, Sanchez will now sit out the FA Cup semi-final, and possibly more time after that if his manager deems him too much of a liability.
Dani Carvajal
8 of 8
Our final selection comes from the UEFA Champions League fixture which saw Real and Atletico Madrid battle to a 0-0 draw in the first leg on Tuesday night.
Mario Mandzukic was battered all over the show throughout the night—elbows to the head, fouls from behind and so on—but Dani Carvajal came up with the worst moment when he turned and punched the Croatian striker in the chest in an off-the-ball incident.
It wasn't spotted at the time but it would be a great surprise if Carvajal didn't face retrospective punishment for the hit.
