Real Sociedad will have to recover quickly from the news that their coach Philippe Montanier will leave to join Rennes at the end of the season as they face Real Madrid in a crucial match in their quest to claim the fourth and final Champions League place from La Liga.
.
Montanier has decided to bring his time in San Sebastian to an end after two seasons despite the guarantee of European football next season, with his side currently ahead of Valencia thanks to a better head-to-head record with just two games to go.
.
However, striker Imanol Agirretxe believes they are capable of putting the Frenchman's decision to the back of their minds and concentrating on Sunday's game.
.
"The dressing room is calm, we are in a very important moment. The coach is conscious of just how important it is and he has asked us to be calm," he said on Thursday.
.
"Right now we are concentrating on the game against Real Madrid with great desire and excitement.
.
"It will be the last game at Anoeta this season. We are playing for a lot and, moreover, against Real Madrid so I think the excitement for this game is above any personal situation we have as a manager or a player."
.
Madrid are also adjusting to the news that they will have a managerial change at the end of the season after it was officially confirmed on Monday that Jose Mourinho will depart the Spanish capital come the end of the campaign.
.
Already guaranteed to finish second, Madrid having nothing to play for, but Agirretxe is not buying talk that they will be demotivated.
.
"They are not playing for anything, but at the end of the day they know how to play very well. Real Madrid are Real Madrid, I have never seen them relaxed or taking a game easy and in this sense it will be a very difficult game."
.
Mourinho will at least be able to manage his penultimate game in charge from the technical area as his two-game ban for being sent-off during Real's defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last Friday only applies to domestic cup fixtures.
But i honestly do not think they would achieve that because Madrid would not allow it. Mourinho's men are angry now.