Walter Mazzarri: 'I have professional respect for Jose Mourinho'

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has dismissed suggestions that there is a rivalry between himself and Jose Mourinho.

While Mourinho was in charge of Inter Milan, Mazzarri spent time at both Sampdoria and Napoli, but he has insisted that he holds a "professional respect" for the man who will be in the opposite dugout when Watford face Manchester United on Sunday.

The 54-year-old told reporters: "I have a very good relationship with Mourinho. Sometimes the press looks at what happened before in Italy but that is normal because when you fight for a top position, it's normal that sometimes you say a couple of things one to the other.

"I have a good professional relationship with him; there's professional respect."

Watford head into the game having recorded their first win of the season against West Ham United last weekend.