Sympathy is in short supply to Premier League rivals from Norwich City boss Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton admits Premier League management is a ruthless business. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Chris Hughton insists he can ill afford to feel sympathy for rival Premier League bosses operating in the cut-throat world of top flight management.
Norwich City's 2-0 win at West Brom saw Baggies' counterpart Steve Clarke heavily criticised for his selections and tactics after a third straight defeat in seven days increased the pressure on the Scot at the Hawthorns. Hughton has had to deflect questions on his own Carrow Road future during City's lowest points this season, but the Canaries' chief accepts that level of scrutiny comes with the territory.
'I would not give advice to any manager because if you are in this game long enough you will have experienced it,' he said. 'There are very few of us who can win every week. I would love to be one of those but I am not. You have to ride the difficult times and accept you will not win every week. Every manager in that position will experience it. It is not so much the pressure that comes with the job because I feel it is more about the pressure you put on yourself.
'The defeats become harder, particularly these days, and you probably don't enjoy the wins as much as you should do. It makes for a better weekend but come Monday morning it is about how you go about beating the next team and for us that is Swansea.'
Hughton revealed he spends little time fretting over endless speculation surrounding the Premier League 'sack race' and whoever is touted as the next top flight manager to lose their job.
'In all honesty I don't listen to it,' he said. 'I know how the game is and when one manager is under pressure it can easily switch.
'If people perceive the results are not what they should be that focus will be on you, but it can shift again to someone else the next week and another manager the following week after that. If you take note of that you drive yourself mad.
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'You have to concentrate on the job and not other things. The pressure is always there. It is always on my shoulders. As soon as the good feel of a win goes it is about the pressure of trying to get that next result.'
