Mauricio Pochettino looks more likely than ever to leave Paris Saint-Germain as their Champions League capitulation against Real Madrid leaves him hanging by a thread.
The former Tottenham boss took charge in Paris in January last year but he has struggled to settle. Domestically they have been indifferent, failing to win the Ligue 1 title last season, although they look set to reclaim it this time around.
However European success is the main remit and Pochettino has come under fire after they surrendered a two-goal aggregate lead in less than 30 minutes to Real Madrid to crash out of the Champions League.
Karim Benzema's 17-minute treble at the Bernabeu left the Parisian contingent stunned after a Kylian Mbappe strike in each leg had them in control.
And former PSG winger Jerome Rothen, who had a much maligned stint at Rangers, called the boss out for "sitting on his a**" as his team's European hopes crumbled.
Rothen said on punditry for RMC: “Where is his charisma? This is the biggest stakes, where is he? He is sitting with his a** on the seat.”
Various reports, including one from The Telegraph, suggest the Argentine boss is on the brink of the sack as the pressure mounts.
Pochettino confessed after the game that it "won't be easy" to win fans back over, while the visibly distraught boss also refused to discuss Mbappe's future, with the France striker's contract due to expire in the summer.
“The next few weeks are not going to be easy," he said.
“It’s simply impossible to discuss about (Mbappe's future) right now, it’s not the right moment.
“We’re really disappointed tonight.”
Mbappe's seemingly imminent departure could be one more factor that edges him towards the exit door. It's believed he is still on Manchester United 's shortlist and reports say he wants the job - but another big European failure might cause the Red Devils to look elsewhere.
Ralf Rangnick is currently in charge at Old Trafford but he's struggled to get it going and could step back to an advisory role in the summer.
However PSG sporting director Leonardo insists it's not the time for change as he urged the club to "stay together" - hinting Pochettino will remain in the job until the end of the season.
He said: “We should stay together. Pochettino is still part of the project for this season. It’s not the time to think about that.
“We shouldn’t throw everything in the bin. We shouldn’t start from scratch after every loss”
