Mazzarri tells Watford’s players to ‘follow the rules with no exceptions’
New Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri has told his players they all need to follow his rules “with no exceptions”.
Mazzarri is an experienced operator who guided Napoli to second in Serie A and the last 16 of the Champions League during his four years at the club, as well as winning the Coppa Italia.
The 54-year-old has been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in November 2014 after 18 months at the club but the Hornets’ Italian owner Gino Pozzo thought he was the perfect choice to replace Quique Sanchez Flores at Vicarage Road this summer.
“I have the experience and the balance to manage a group of players, no problem. People think of me as a motivator that expects everyone to follow the rules with no exceptions,” Mazzarri said.
“I’m used to pressure. Napoli was a great adventure that lasted four years with intense pressure, but I must say I work best under pressure because I like challenges.”
Watford’s first season in the Premier League was a success as they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup and their survival was never in doubt, finishing the campaign 13th.
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But the club’s hierarchy decided to dispense with the Spaniard after just four wins in their final 21 Premier League games.
This will be Mazzarri’s first job outside of Italy but the former winger is confident he will be suited to English football.
He said: “I was a manager in Italy for 15 years, but at one point I realised that it was time to go abroad and put myself to the test as I need challenges in my life.
“I decided that the Premier League is the right place to start because it’s the most important league in the world.
“When the Watford opportunity came up I took it because I feel that the club and I are on the same wavelength.”
When asked what he was looking forward to most in the Premier League, he replied: “Definitely the atmosphere in the English stadiums. I can’t wait to sit down on the bench for the first time at Vicarage Road in front of all of our fans.”
