Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri has played down any previous friction with Jose Mourinho insisting he has a great professional relationship with the Manchester United boss.

The pair will come face to face on Sunday at Vicarage Road with their previous battles in Italy sparking talk of a feud.

Mourinho and Mazzarri clashed when in charge of Inter Milan and Napoli respectively but the Hornets boss insists they are on good terms these days.

Mazzarri said: “I have a very good relationship with Mourinho. Sometimes the press looks at what happened before in Italy with Mourinho but that is normal because when you fight for a top position it’s normal sometimes it can happen.

"But I have a very good relationship with him and it’s a great professional relationship. I have professional respect for him."