Avram Grant was able to reflect on a tremendous week's work with a smile on Monday but, with more challenges ahead, would not be dwelling too long despite a trio of eye-catching results.
The manager could surely be forgiven had he chosen to bask in a seven days that saw a point at Stoke, Carling Cup progress away to Sunderland and then a well-deserved 1-0 home success against UEFA Champions League contenders Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.
Indeed, everyone connected with the club was on a high over the weekend - but a delighted Grant was determined most of all to place even more expectation on his own shoulders to keep on delivering - starting with Fulham in this Saturday's Kids for a Quid fixture at the Boleyn.
GET YOUR FULHAM TICKETS TODAY
CLICK HERE OR CALL 0871 222 2700*
"I feel all the time under pressure," he said. "I don't want to be even one minute without pressure in this job as it will damage me more than be a good thing.
"Pressure is not a bad word. It pushes, pushes you to the right place. I control the pressure and can direct it when I decide. Other people let the pressure control them."
Although a figure of studied concentration during the match - "it is the job of the manager to control his emotion" - Grant admitted he was caught up in the celebrations at the final whistle against Spurs.
Nothing will deter him from achieving the targets he established when arriving back in the summer, and he has sensed there is a real opportunity to make a difference in east London.
"I had good days with Chelsea and Portsmouth, of course it was different, but now I am here and I am more pleased we have a project.
"I like that we are playing good football, we have a vision about the players. We know that we don't have the money [of many rival clubs] because of the debt, so we took hungry players that want to succeed. We took players that can develop the team."
The manager said he was pleased to see his players - notably Robert Green - share their elation with the supporters at the final whistle.
"We played against a very good team in Tottenham and a good manager. I know how much this means to the fans. We are living to make the fans happy.
"It is a good feeling to win any game. Since the first day of the season, I knew we were playing well and would get the results we need. In football, people have to be patient and not make quick judgements. As long as you see effort and progress, you will get the rewards.
"Last season was traumatic for this club and we know it will take time to change the mentality. We are doing everything right and it is important that we have stuck to our way. We have a long way to go."
*Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras.