Walter Mazzarri has been speaking to the London Evening Standard about his new life in charge of Premier League side Watford. The former Napoli and Inter boss has captured the imagination of the English footballing public since his summer arrival but he started off by admitting that it’s a tiring job explaining that; “If I eat, I lose time. Before this interview, they brought me a yoghurt with some honey while I was planning the next training session. That’s all I’ve had today. I have learned how to manage hunger. In the evening, yes, I really need to eat but only when my work here is over. Before then, I forget. I am at the training ground until 6 or 7pm. Then I’ll have dinner and after that, I start [work] again”.  

He was asked if he could ever switch off from his job to which he replied; “I might try to watch a film to distract myself but my mind is always on football. WhatsApp has been great for me. I might be in the bathroom, cleaning my teeth, and I’ll have an idea — so I send a voice message to (Assistant coach) Frustalupi. “Remind me to speak to Troy Deeney in the morning”, adding that; “In the past, I would write things down on pieces of paper, so I’d remember when I’d wake in the morning. There would be little notes everywhere. I am always thinking about my team, what my players need to do.”  

Despite a steady start and having already claimed the scalp of Manchester United, Mazzarri believes his team could have done better and is irritated by the cliché often given to Italian coaches that they are too defensive. He explained that; “I concentrate on attacking football in training more than most coaches in Europe,” said Mazzarri. “I’ve always been considered a ‘tactical coach’ which is an honour. “You can’t forget the defensive side of the game, because if you lose 6-5, it’s worthless. But I invite people to watch my sessions. See the importance I give to the attacking side of the game”.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler