Roy Hodgson admits that trying to save Crystal Palace from relegation is giving him sleepless nights, even after his 40 years in coaching.
Palace are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and face fellow strugglers West Ham at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic knows a defeat will raise more questions about his future, while Hodgson is also badly in need of a result.
Hodgson had the weight of a nation on his shoulders during four years in charge of England, and admits there is “no easy way” of dealing with pressure as a manager.
However, despite the stress that comes with being in charge, the 70-year-old is relishing his role at Palace.
“I took the job, that brings pressure and I have to deal with that,” he said on Friday. “Do I like it? Do I still get the sleepless nights that all football managers get after bad results? Yes, I am afraid I still do.
“That has not changed with time. And maybe when the day comes when it does change, and you can just as happily go home when you have won or lost, then that is probably the time when you should not be in it any more.
“I do not think there is an easy way to deal with the pressures we subject ourselves to when we take the job.
“If I start complaining the pressure is too much for me, then someone will ask me why I took the job and why I did not stay like I was between England and taking the Crystal Palace job.
“I took the job because I wanted the pressure. I wanted the experience. I wanted to work with the players again. I believe I can make a difference. I believe I can help.”
Palace are five points from safety at the bottom but a win tomorrow would drag them closer to a host of teams, including West Ham.
“The pressure of being a Premier League manager is always going to be with you,” said Hodgson, whose side have won their previous two games at Selhurst Park.
“It is an enormous responsibility because a lot of money is involved. If a team does not stay in the league, it is harder and harder to get back into the league. You are representing a club which interests a lot of people.
“England, of course, that is a different kettle all together. That is 60 million people you are representing. “It would be very foolish to suggest that whenever you are working for a club side that the pressure is the same as when you are representing your country.
“You cannot compare those things. The noise around a team will never get louder than it was when I was England manager, so the noise has become almost difficult to hear when you are at Crystal Palace. Noise does not bother me.”
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