Sniping comments between Jose Mourinho and members of the Real Madrid squad have caused president Florentino Perez to make a rare foray into the limelight to call for unity at the club during the season run- in.
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The nine-time European champions host Malaga in La Liga on Wednesday, in a rearranged fixture due to their involvement in the May 17 King's Cup final against Atletico Madrid.
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Second-placed Real must win to make leaders Barcelona wait to be crowned champions, as they trail Tito Vilanova's side by 11 points with four games left.
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Anything less than a victory would gift Barca a fourth league crown in five years without having to play.
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Speculation over Mourinho's future has gone into overdrive since Real were denied a place in the Champions League final by Borussia Dortmund last week, and the Portuguese has done little to quash it.
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Instead, Mourinho stirred up simmering divisions at the club last Friday by having a dig at popular club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas who he has dropped in favour of Diego Lopez recently.
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The Bernabeu cheered Casillas's name when it was read out among the substitutes at the stadium before their 4-3 league win over Real Valladolid on Saturday. Mourinho's name was whistled by a large section of the crowd.