Newcomers Puel and Mazzarri pit wits on opening day

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Southampton manager Claude Puel begins his Premier League career by pitting his wits against Watford boss Walter Mazzarri in a battle of two newcomers to the English top-flight. Both men know they have a task on their hands to match the achievements of their predecessors as the two sides meet at St Mary’s on Saturday. Saints qualified for the Europa League under Ronald Koeman, who left for Everton in the close-season, while Quique Sanchez Flores departed despite taking Watford to the FA Cup semi-finals last term as well as maintaining their top-flight status. Puel was

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Both men know they have a task on their hands to match the achievements of their predecessors as the two sides meet at St Mary’s on Saturday.

Saints qualified for the Europa League under Ronald Koeman, who left for Everton in the close-season, while Quique Sanchez Flores departed despite taking Watford to the FA Cup semi-finals last term as well as maintaining their top-flight status.

Puel was hired after steering unfancied Nice into fourth place in the French top division last term and the Frenchman is looking forward to the challenge of emulating Koeman’s achievements.

“I’m enjoying sitting down and working with this squad,” he said. “The qualities are there, but there is also the spirit and attitude, which is encouraging for the future of Southampton.

“The first game of the season is always a special day. It’s important at the beginning, for the start of the season, to stay with a good concentration about our play with all the details we can work on in the training.”

Southampton have sold key men in the close season to make Puel’s job harder, with Victor Wanyama joining Tottenham for £11 million, Sadio Mane leaving for Liverpool for £30 million and Italy striker Graziano Pelle departing to Shandong Luneng for £12 million.

Captain Jose Fonte has been linked with Manchester United, but Puel is not prepared to let the Portugal defender join the exodus.

“It is important to keep Jose Fonte at Southampton,” Puel said. “He is a very important player for the team, a good player and I don’t see him to leave us.”

Meanwhile, Mazzarri admits his English is not yet good enough for him to dispense with a translator to get his ideas across to his players.

But the Italian, who has spells at Inter Milan and Napoli on his CV, insists that won’t be a handicap for the team.

“There is no problem with the players and there is no problem with communication on the pitch,” he said.

“The only thing I want to improve is to be able to communicate with the journalists and hopefully in the future I will be able to do this.”

The Hornets have been boosted by news that striker Odion Ighalo has signed a contract extension until 2021.

The Nigeria international scored 17 goals in 42 appearances last season, which inevitably led to interest from big-spending clubs.

Watford turned down a £38 million offer from the Chinese side Shanghai SIPG at the end of June and Ighalo has now followed the example of strike partner Troy Deeney, who signed a new five-year contract at the start of July.

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