Daniel Farke accepts he is playing for high stakes with Norwich City in danger of being sucked into a Championship relegation scrap.
The City coach was forced to deflect questions about his own job prospects as well as defend the majority shareholders from some disgruntled fans following Friday's 2-1 home defeat to Brentford.
Norwich head to Birmingham on Boxing Day desperate to halt a run of one win in the last 11.
Struggling Burton await later in the week, before Millwall visit Norfolk on New Year's Day looking to complete a league double after a thumping 4-0 win at the Den in August.
'I am not worried about relegation. That is a question when you are two points away from the relegation places,' said Farke.
'I am not too concerned because we are not in the relegation battle but, of course, we have to pick up results to keep the distance to those positions where don't want to be.
'The next three games are important because they are against direct opponents who will be hungry to close that gap.
'Norwich fans are passionate and it is hard to accept we are 16th in the table but we had a big change in the summer to lower our wage bill and bring in some transfer fees. When you have this glorious history maybe you don't want to speak about the realistic things.
'They want to see good football on the pitch and that is quite normal. It is quite normal they are moaning and not happy with the situation.'
MORE: Have your say on our Pinkun forumFarke dismissed reports of player unrest ahead of the Bees' defeat but knows he is under scrutiny.
'As a manager you always feel pressure. If we had 11 wins then the pressure is to win the next one,' he said. 'The most pressure I feel is not for my personal situation, it is the fact before I signed a contract I knew it would be an unbelievable task to lead the club through this period of change.
'This is a massive club and the pressure I feel is to fulfil the expectations of those inside the club and the supporters.
'The biggest pressure for me is to make people happy.
'I have worked in professional football since the age of 18. There have been strange situations in my playing career and as a coach.
'I have experienced success and disappointment and it is not pleasant to be in this situation.'
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