When you're at the helm of a club like The New Saints, every match feels like a final. Manager Craig Harrison knows this better than most. Despite a rocky start to the season, he never let the pressure get to him—and the results speak for themselves.

TNS stormed to an 18th Cymru Premier title, finishing a staggering 22 points clear at the top. But the road to glory wasn't smooth. A disappointing European campaign and a heavy opening-day loss at home to Briton Ferry Llansawel raised eyebrows early on.

"There's always pressure being TNS manager because you expect to win every single game," Harrison told BBC Sport Wales. "If you draw a game, it's a catastrophe. If you lose a game, it's the end of the world. It's something I've been involved with for over 10 years now."

Under Harrison, TNS made history as the first Welsh domestic side to reach the group stages of a European competition in the 2024-25 season. But earlier this term, they fell to North Macedonia's KF Shkendija in the Champions League and Luxembourg's FC Differdange in the Conference League—losses chairman Mike Harris called "disappointing," sparking speculation about Harrison's future.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a fantastic time and it wasn't particularly comfortable," Harrison admitted. "But pressure? There's pressure every single day from myself to perform. I put it on myself to win games, to meet the standards I set, the standards I think are acceptable."

And those standards paid off. Despite the early-season wobbles and early European exits, TNS went on to win 26 of their 32 league games, losing just four and drawing two. They may have been knocked out of the JD Welsh Cup by Cardiff Met and beaten by Barry Town United in the Nathaniel MG Cup final, but in the league, they were unstoppable.

For Harrison, it's all part of the job. And for fans and players alike, it's a masterclass in staying cool when the heat is on.