MAZZARRI A WORK IN PROGRESS

WALTER MAZZARRI told Watford players shattered by his training regime to like it or lump it and warned: “I’m not going to change.”

Some of Mazzarri’s squad are thought to be unhappy that he ordered 12 consecutive days of training after the 2-0 defeat by 10-man Hull last month.

But the Italian disciplinarian has invited disaffected players to step forward – and so far none has challenged his authority.

Mazzarri, whose side still need a point to secure Premier League safety, said: “I believe in work and sacrifice. This is fundamental in football.

“If there is a player who does not agree with me, he can raise his hand and tell me. But I am not going to change.

“I don’t see what the problem is – these people train for an hour, maybe an hour-and-a-half, a day. These people are athletes.

“In Italy we have a saying that work makes a person more noble and the important thing is to work well – that will make you play better. We do this for ourselves but also for our fans.

“I come from a background with a workbased philosophy. That’s been the way since I was young – you feel better if the money you earn comes from your sweat.”

Despite grumbles from the training ground and no goals away from home since January, Mazzarri’s job is not believed to be under imminent threat.

The club have laid on an intensive language course for him over the summer after his failure to conduct media interviews in English, which suggests Mazzarri (above) will still be at the helm next season.