With the responsibility for the success or failure of football clubs resting primarily on the shoulders of managers, their profession is immensely stressful.
West Bromwich Albion boss Bryan Robson is not about to complain after four years out of Premiership management between leaving Middlesbrough and taking over at The Hawthorns last November.
But he is clearly feeling the strain of trying to keep Albion in the top flight - and his task is not going to get any easier with the Baggies due at Manchester United tomorrow for their penultimate match this season.
Following a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal last Monday, Albion could be relegated tomorrow if they lose and there is a winner in the match between Crystal Palace and Southampton at Selhurst Park.
Robson remains outwardly upbeat about his side's prospects but said yesterday that the club's precarious position had caused him to have problems sleeping.
He said: "I must admit after the Arsenal game I didn't really sleep at all because I felt for the players.
They gave everything and they didn't get a break in the game. You don't sleep on those nights but the next night I did sleep OK."
Robson's biggest nightmare is that United, the club where he made his name as a player, will send his side down this weekend.
It would be a cruel twist of fate for the former United legend - who made 470 appearances for them - but Robson is not expecting any preferential treatment from the hosts even though they are out of the title race.
He added: "I know the mentality of Manchester United and the mentality is that, whether you are playing a testimonial or a league game - you win. Sir Alex Ferguson's attitude epitomises that and we know we will get no favours from Manchester United."
United are unbeaten at home in the Premiership this year and Robson has won only once at Old Trafford in 11 matches as a manager.
However, he hopes his players are inspired by performing on arguably the biggest stage in the Premiership and Albion pull off a victory to ensure their attempt to avoid relegation goes to the final day of the season when Portsmouth visit.
Robson said: "Hopefully there will be 67,000 fans inside a packed Old Trafford and there is a great atmosphere for my players who get lifted by that.
"No matter the result at Crystal Palace against Southampton, we have to go to Old Trafford to try to win.
"We just have to give it everything in the United game and hopefully we can then give our fans a great day against Portsmouth."
With United no longer the dominant force in English football, Albion should travel with some hope. But Robson is backing Ferguson to remain in charge at Old Trafford for many years as the Red Devils attempt to dethrone Chelsea, who won the title last Saturday.
He said: "Chelsea have been the team this year because they have had an unbelievable year but I know Sir Alex Ferguson will be stressing to his players that they have to raise their standards again to get past Chelsea and Arsenal next year.
"That will be his attitude and, as long as his health is good, he will be another person like Sir Bobby Robson who was still a manager at 70 years old.
"I just see him working 16 hours a day preparing Manchester United as a football club and challenging for trophies. Knowing the man, I don't see him in a Sainsburys or in the garden cutting the grass."
Robson, already without the midfield trio of Richard Chaplow, Kieran Richardson and Andy Johnson tomorrow, has Ronnie Wallwork confined to bed with an illness. He said: "Hopefully Ronnie will recover by the weekend. He has a bit of sickness and it's the last thing we need.
"But the boys are in a really good buoyant mood and I couldn't be more pleased with their commitment."
Richardson, on loan from United, is ineligible to play and Robson believes Albion must stay up to have any hope of retaining the talented 20-year-old next season.
