Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an “eternal and immortal” player, according to Watford manager Walter Mazzarri.
Mazzarri’s Watford host Ibrahimovic and his Manchester United team-mates on Sunday in the Premier League, although the pair have often come across each other during their time in Serie A.
“Ibrahimovic is the type of player I call eternal and immortal,” Mazzarri said in his pre-match press conference. “I have [coached] 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 that 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.”
Walter Mazzarri says feud with José Mourinho is over before latest meeting
- Mazzarri had tense relationship with Portuguese when both worked in Serie A
- Before Watford host Manchester United, Mazzarri says: ‘He’s a great manager’
Walter Mazzarri says he has nothing but respect for José Mourinho, despite a fiery relationship in Serie A that led to the Portuguese manager describing him as a hard-working donkey that will never become a thoroughbred.
The pair meet in the Premier League for the first time at Watford on Sunday, having clashed when Mourinho was at Internazionale and Mazzarri managed Sampdoria and Napoli.
Although Mazzarri has previously said that the Portuguese, now in charge at Manchester United, speaks “so much rubbish” after Mourinho reckoned that for the Italian “beating me is the most important thing in his career”, there is now mutual respect following private discussions when Mazzarri took over at Inter in 2013.
“I have a very good relationship with Mourinho now,” Mazzarri said. “Sometimes the press look at what happens in Italy – the same with [the Chelsea manager Antonio] Conte. 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.
“In life there are some episodes and moments but with time we got to know each other. At the beginning we did not know each other. We are both coaches that want our teams to perform in the best possible way and would do anything for that to happen. In Italy we were fighting for the top positions but, speaking professionally, I have great respect for him. I always have because he’s a great manager.”
Roberto Pereyra and Paul Pogba will also be on opposite sides on Sunday afternoon following their respective moves from Juventus in the summer. The Watford player appears to have adapted seamlessly, whereas Pogba’s initial adaptation has not been too smooth.
Unsurprisingly Mazzarri says he would choose Pereyra over Pogba given a choice but he expects the French midfielder come good.
“As a principle I fall in love with my players,” he said. “They are very important. Pereyra is a great player, he runs from side to side, has great qualities and was the player I wanted. If I had to choose, I’d pick Pereyra.
“But Pogba is a champion. He is a very young player and this may have an influence on him adapting a little slower after changing team. Everything is new for him at the moment but with one play he can change the result.”
Watford will evaluate the fitness of Younès Kaboul and Sebastian Prödl because of minor knocks but Stefano Okaka remains out with a hamstring injury.