Watford boss Walter Mazzarri offers a drink to old rival Jose Mourinho
Walter Mazzarri has dismissed suggestions he holds a grudge against Jose Mourinho and will offer the Manchester United manager a post-game drink at Watford on Sunday.
Mazzarri coached Sampdoria and Napoli during Mourinho's successful reign at Inter Milan and the Italian was one of the rivals Mourinho antagonised.
He said of him that "a donkey can work hard but will never become a thoroughbred", while Mazzarri dismissed him for talking "rubbish, so much rubbish".
But Mazzarri insists none of that matters on Sunday, and said: "I have a very good relationship with Mourinho. Sometimes the press look at what happens in Italy; the same with (Chelsea's Antonio) Conte and Mourinho.
"It's normal when you fight for top positions that it happens but I have a very good relationship; a strong relationship with him. There is professional respect.
"Of course (I'll invite him for a drink). No problem."
Mazzarri was also asked of the time Mourinho - who managed Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a year at Inter - accused his Sampdoria team of playing "anti-football", but he responded: "I don't remember that.
"It wasn't like that because Sampdoria was playing very good football. I don't remember him saying that. There were other things when I was at Napoli but not at Sampdoria.
"Ibrahimovic is the type of player I call 'eternal' and 'immortal'. I have played against him many times; he can make the difference on the pitch.
"We will try as we always do with great players but I also want to add: it's very important to keep in my mind Manchester United are not just about Ibrahimovic.
"(Wayne) Rooney, (Marouane) Fellaini; the whole squad, all of the players. They have a great squad and we have to be careful."
Watford's confidence is likely building after they recovered from going two goals down at West Ham to secure their first win of the season, but they remain without the injured Stefano Okaka.
Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Prodl also face late fitness tests, and Mazzarri said: "I don't think (United's confidence will be low).
"For them to lose to (Manchester) City after a great second half, those are great matches with incredible players and a high level of football. Great teams."
United head to Vicarage Road looking to avoid a third straight defeat, which could see them fall behind six points behind Pep Guardiola's City after just five matches.
"You are right, it is early days," Mourinho said. "I prefer to be four in front than four behind, that's obvious, but as you are saying it's very early days."
Asked, though, if Watford was the biggest match of his short reign given the events of this week where his side suffered a Europa League defeat to Feyenoord, Mourinho said: "Watford? I think Man United has to show every game, every game, every competition.
"The club is too big, the supporters are too passionate for the professionals not to feel that every game is a very important game, so I don't think they should need a defeat or in this case two defeats to try to give everything they have to give.
"It should belong to them and that is what I expect from them - it is that on Sunday we will try to win the match, normal."
A good start would certain help United's chances in Hertfordshire, given the sloppy and unwieldy first-half displays that played a large part in their downfall in both the Manchester derby and their Europa League opener.
"Look, I always say that the best motivation you can have is your own motivation," Mourinho added.
"If you need other people to motivate you... I always feel that my job is that I am an extra source of motivation, but the motivation belongs to the players.
"And if the players at this age need... the great life, the money, they have to do what they want, I think they shouldn't need an extra source of motivation.
"The motivation belongs to themselves so I believe in that, I believe that on Sunday they will try to win the match, try to give absolutely everything and it will be just by them to try to help."
Source: PAR
