( CNN ) -- The latest round of Champions League matches finds a string of top European managers on the verge of being dumped out of the competition - a failure that could cost them their job . Bayern Munich boss Louis Van Gaal and Rafael Benitez at Liverpool are staring an early exit in the face after a disastrous run of results , while Manuel Pellegrini at Real Madrid and even Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho are in danger of crashing out of the money-spinning tournament at the first hurdle . So how do coaches cope with the unique pressure that comes with a high-profile job in football , and are the skills needed to be successful in soccer applicable to other areas ? Andy Barton , a mental performance consultant at The Sporting Mind clinic , says the first , and fundamental , characteristic all proficient gaffers need is self belief . `` All the top managers have different styles but the common denominator is the confidence they have in themselves , '' he said . `` You need a true understanding of the game but also people . You need an ability to motivate players to get them geed up just to the right level , you need to know that certain people need a certain kind of attention . '' The skill-set top level coaches display can be adapted to almost any workplace , Barton claims . `` In business , you need to be able to man-manage and inspire people , set goals for them , help them overcome obstacles , give them self-belief and to give them a kick up the backside when they need it . There are a lot of parallels between high-level sports coaching and people who are successful in a business environment . '' Barton says the beautiful game has recently woken up to the benefit that sports psychology can offer , and the key to success is to keep things simple . `` You have to concentrate on the moment , one game at a time or one half at a time . If a coach is thinking two games ahead or about the consequences of winning or losing he 's not going to be effective . If coaches ca n't get themselves in the right frame of mind they 're not going be able to do it to their players . '' The mind games between coaches can be fascinating viewing for fans , but Barton says the verbal volleys are becoming an increasingly important part of the game . He points to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his infamous rant about Alex Ferguson , the manager of rival side Manchester United . Benitez convened a press conference where he criticized Ferguson 's supposed `` arrogance '' in wanting match-scheduling and refereeing to suit his team in England . `` When Benitez attacked Ferguson it bounced off as if nothing happened and had a really detrimental effect on Benitez . He appeared agitated , frustrated and stressed . Ferguson just swatted him away as if he was an annoying fly . That suggests Ferguson feels far more in control and that 's going to ripple down to his players - they feel more confidence because their coach seems the more dominant of the two . '' Barton also stresses the importance of touchline body language as a measure of control for managers , and the trust they must have in their players to carry out their demands to the letter . `` Players do respond to body language , '' he added . `` Jose Mourinho has very positive body language , even when he was sitting back with his arms round the back of the chairs . It 's something that says to the players `` I 'm in control . '' `` But trust is very important too . If you do n't trust your players you 're probably not going to get that much out of them anyway , so you do have to get to that level where you can let them get on with it . '' Andy Barton is a mental performance consultant at The Sporting Mind clinic .
Sports psychologist Andy Barton says self - belief is key for any manager . Alex Ferguson is a master of the mental game , according to Barton . It is vital under - fire managers take one game at a time , he says . Inter ##n Jose Mourinho provides a great example of positive body language .