Gianfranco Zola has expressed his admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of today's visit of reigning Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United.
The Hammers boss has been in charge at the Boleyn Ground for just 15 months, while the 67-year-old Scot took his first job in management at East Stirlingshire in June 1974 - when Zola was just seven.
While the 43-year-old is still learning his trade, Sir Alex has become one of the world's most respected managers, leading the Red Devils to 25 major trophies in 23 seasons at Old Trafford. As such, it is no surprise that the Italian has great respect for the United boss.
"I admire him. He's been in this game for a long time and has always produced results and kept his composure. He's been under pressure a lot of times but he has coped with it very well, it seems. It will be nice to talk to him and ask him how."
While Ferguson's success, tactical nous and forceful personality have created something of an aura around him, Zola admitted the adrenaline that flows through his veins while he patrols the touchline sometimes gets the better of him.
"When you are there, you are under pressure and you don't realise. I remember at the beginning I was talking to Scott Parker and saying 'You have to do this' and 'You have to do that' and Scott kept looking at me in a strange way until I realised I was talking to him in Italian. That was one of those moments when you realise this job is tough.
"It is like that, sometimes. You are under pressure and you react. It's normal and happens to everybody. We are human beings and sometimes we don't do the right thing.
"It's a different way because when you are playing, of course you get adrenaline, but you are moving and running. On the touchline I can't run, I would be sent-off otherwise. It's normal that you get that and you need to get accustomed to it.
"You find the way to handle it. For me it might be one way, but for others another."
While Zola will attempt to remain calm this afternoon, his players know they will have to produce their best performance of the season to secure a victory.
The Hammers go into Saturday's fixture as 6/1 outsiders, but the manager insisted they can upset the bookmakers - and Ferguson - at the Boleyn Ground.
However, Zola admitted his team would have to defend better than they did in the closing stages of last week's 5-3 win over Burnley if they are to prevail.
"We have been working last week and this week. Last week, it didn't work very well! Last week, the goals came in the last minutes when we were 5-0 up and the attention dropped and some players were tired. A lot was due to that.
"We have been focusing on the defensive side of the game and I've seen improvements. I'm sure we'll do well.
"The difference between a big player and an average player is that average player has five chances and scores once, while a big player needs only two chances. When you play a team with the quality of Manchester United, you have to be spotless because otherwise they will take advantage.
"If you remember last season, we played well. We played a tight game and made one mistake and Ryan Giggs punished us. That was the story of the game, really.
"You need to raise your attention for 90 minutes. That's what you have to do if you want to get points against teams like that."
While defensive work has been the order of the day at Chadwell Heath, Zola's attackers - Guillermo Franco, Zavon Hines, Alessandro Diamanti and Junior Stanislas among them - will also have to prove their worth in the absence of the injured Carlton Cole.
"I think we will have to find some other ways, although I have to say Franco is good as well at holding the ball. He is very intelligent, so we might use him as a target man, but get the ball into him in a different way. We will be working on that."