Walter Mazzarri deserves credit for turning Watford's fortunes around
It’s hard for a smaller club to get much attention in the star-focused Premier League. Even when Watford beat Manchester United 3-1 earlier in the season, the post-match reports were all about United, its coach Jose Mourinho, and his team’s failings. Very little was talked about the deserving winner on that occasion.
Only when there is a problem does the smaller club move into the spotlight: and so it appeared last week, when The Daily Telegraph revealed that a forged bank document was used in the transfer of ownership to Gino Pozzo in 2014 when Watford was in the Championship. There is the threat of a fine or even points deduction; but such is the start that the team has made to life under new boss Walter Mazzarri, the latter might not hurt them too much.
After Watford beat Hull 1-0 on Saturday–an own goal making the difference as Watford’s 22 shots failed to find the target–the team moved up to seventh in the Premier League and ahead of United. Mazzarri deserves enormous credit for this, not least because he has introduced a three-man defense to the side and still, in media conferences at least, communicates with an interpreter.
“At the beginning we did a great 30 minutes where we played beautiful and the way I want my team to play every game,” he said after the game.
Antonio Conte is not the only Italian coach making three at the back work in the Premier League. Watford is establishing itself as a Premier League side and Mazzarri has done a great job so far.