The alarm bells are already ringing for Rafa Benitez at Real Madrid. Less than two months into a new season and a new project, there are signs of discontent after a disappointing derby draw at Atletico on Sunday and an early stand-off between captain and coach.
Benitez was widely criticised by the Spanish press for his conservative approach after Madrid let their lead slip at the Vicente Calderon and had to settle for a point against Diego Simeone's side when they could - and perhaps should - have wrapped up a win with a more adventurous approach.
The decision to take off goalscorer Karim Benzema was an unpopular choice and Luciano Vietto's late leveller brought added scrutiny on the former Liverpool and Napoli coach.
The result itself was disappointing due to the characteristics of the game, but no worse than Madrid have done versus their city rivals recently. Rafa's predecessor Carlo Ancelotti, for example, won only once at the Calderon and that was against a weakened Atleti side in the Copa del Rey semi-finals (and thanks to two Cristiano Ronaldo penalties) after Real had already triumphed 3-0 in the first leg.
Ancelotti failed to win seven of the eight derbies last season, scraping through the last of those thanks to a late Javier Hernandez strike in the Champions League quarter-final second leg after Arda Turan had been sent off. And the Italian never beat Simeone's side in La Liga, losing 4-0 away to Atleti in February.
But Benitez was an unpopular choice among many to replace the Italian and it seems some sectors of the press have been waiting for the chance to attack the Spanish coach, who has hardly helped himself with some of his quotes since taking over in the summer.
The 55-year-old recently said Cristiano Ronaldo was "not necessarily" the best player he had coached, having earlier described the Portuguese as only "one of the best" players in the world, when it is common knowledge that a Madrid coach must hail the forward as the game's finest footballer.
And on Monday, he publicly criticised his captain after Ramos conceded a penalty with a foul on Tiago after the centre-back had given the ball away just outside the box against Atleti, only to see Keylor Navas save his skin by keeping out Antoine Griezmann's spot-kick.
"What angered me most of all was the mistake by Ramos," Benitez said in an interview on Monday. "He didn't need to risk an unnecessary pass."
Ramos, who is no shrinking violet, hit back on Tuesday. "People can talk about my mistake," he said. "But they will also talk about the coach's substitutions..."
"Danger of fire!" warned Marca on their front page on Wednesday morning as Spain's sports media focused on the public comments between player and coach that Madrid really did not need at this stage of the season.
The situation was reminiscent of the fall-out between Ramos and former boss Jose Mourinho after a 2-1 Clasico loss at home to Barcelona in Juanary 2012. Then, Pepe and Ramos had switched markers at a set piece and the Portuguese was infuriated after Carles Puyol headed home Barca's goal. "Why did you swap? Are you playing coach now?" Mourinho barked at Ramos. "These are in-game situations and you wouldn't understand," the defender told his coach. "Because you have never played at this level."
Madrid went on to win La Liga that season and enjoyed success in the subsequent Clasico clashes as well, but it was the first fallout within the squad and things ultimately deteriotaed (with Ramos and in general) in Mourinho's third term as they ended up without a major trophy in 2012-13 and he later left the club.
Ramos' strong character means he is usually the one to speak up for his team-mates when there is discontent among the squad - and that sometimes sees him in the firing line when problems occur.
The Spain defender was a staunch supporter of Ancelotti and publicly backed the Italian at the end of last season when his dismissal was imminent.
That angered president Florentino Perez and the player almost left the club in the summer after Perez initially went back on his promise of a new contract he had pledged after Ramos' heroics helped Madrid win La Decima in 2014.
Benitez and Ramos spoke by phone on Wednesday to make peace and met later on in the day after the defender pulled out of the Spain squad through injury.
That's a step in the right direction, but such tensions at this stage spell danger for Benitez and the Spanish coach would do well to look at Ancelotti's example when it comes to putting out fires at the Santiago Bernabeu. Otherwise, it will all be over before it has even properly started for Rafa at Madrid.
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