Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon continues to be coach Bernd Schuster's strongest ally.

After the board's crisis meeting on Tuesday night following their Copa del Rey humiliation at the hands of Real Union, Calderon had lunch with Schuster on Wednesday.

Schuster knows he's under pressure and AS says Calderon received the feedback he was seeking - that is, the German is determined to turn results and performances around.

This flies in the face of some claims inside the club that Schuster is actually tired of the job and looking for a way out.

For his part, Calderon will stand by Schuster, particularly given the experience he had with Fabio Capello two seasons ago. Twice the Italian came close to dismissal, but he ended the season with an unlikely championship victory.