Coaches in danger of the sack after weekend results in Spain

Matchday 16 in the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga has left three coaches on the verge of losing their jobs. Atletico Madrid coach Gregorio Manzano, Villarreal's Juan Carlos Garrido and Zaragoza's Javier Aguirre are all in danger of being sacked by their clubs in the near future after disappointing results for all of their sides this weekend. Manzano's Atletico were humiliated 4-2 away to Espanyol, falling 3-0 behind after just 20 minutes. It is just the latest disappointment for an Atletico team that has the squad to do a great deal better. Manzano has long been questioned by the fans on his second spell at the club and his public falling out with star player, Jose Antonio Reyes, who was left out of Sunday's squad to allow him to negotiate with Turkish side, Galatasaray, has deeply angered fans. Garrido is also seriously questioned after Villarreal were only able to draw at home to Real Sociedad. The result came days after the 2-0 home defeat in the Champions League that meant his side crashed out of Europe after losing all six of their group games. Villarreal have suffered injury problems this season and will be without striker Giuseppe Rossi for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury, however, Garrido has a squad capable of challenging for the top six, whereas at the moment his side is fourth from bottom with just 15 points: the same as Sporting Gijon who are in the drop zone. Aguirre meanwhile could pay the price for Zaragoza's dreadful start to the season. His side are bottom of the table with just 10 points from 15 matches and following Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Mallorca, they are five points off safety. Zaragoza were dreadful against Mallorca, prompting the fans in the La Romareda to mount a vocal protest against club owner Agapito Iglesias. Aguirre has suffered from a lack of investment in the squad and the loss of star players, Ander Herrera and Gabi Fernandez over the summer, but in previous seasons Iglesias has acted by sacking his side's coach when the team is in trouble. A defeat in Bilbao next Saturday or a disappointing performance in the Copa del Rey against second division Alcorcon on Tuesday could cost Aguirre his job.