Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 6y

Walter Mazzarri: Torino 'is the perfect place for me'

Walter Mazzarri said he was "emotional and motivated" after being officially presented as the new coach of Serie A club Torino.

Mazzarri, who left Premier League side Watford after just a year in charge in 2017, has signed a contract until 2020 with Torino after they sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic on Thursday.

"Right now I feel really emotional and motivated, I won't hide it," Mazzarri told Sky Sport Italia. "This is the perfect place for me. I felt it whenever I came here to play against Torino and I think I can do a good job here.

"I'm not the sort of person to make bold statements of intent, I prefer just to let actions speak louder than words."

Mazzarri, 56, inherits a team five points behind a Europa League spot, which remains their objective for the season.

That objective now looks more realistic than before -- according to club president Urbano Cairo -- who says he has been trying to get hold of Mazzarri for over a decade.

"I've been thinking of him [Mazzarri] since 2007 when we had a friendly meeting. He came to Milan and we were together until two in the morning; it's been over 10 years that I've been trying to get him and finally I've succeeded, and I'm really pleased.

"He kept Reggina up three times, including once when they had an 11-point penalty, then he did a great job at Napoli and I've just looked back on the squads Mazzarri has worked with and he's done an extraordinary job.

"Being able to have him here is a dream come true. I'm truly delighted."

On Thursday, Cairo's mood was quite the opposite as he admitted to feeling let down by Mihajlovic.

"I wasn't happy with the team's results, which were too inconsistent, and I wasn't happy with Mihajlovic either," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm convinced this team is of a certain level and they are not delivering according to their potential. It's nothing to do with the Juve game, I just expected more from Mihajlovic.

"We strengthened the squad in the summer, but now we have four points fewer than last year."

Mihajlovic learnt of Cairo's decision in the early hours of Thursday morning, following the 2-0 Coppa Italia defeat to local rivals Juventus.

A group of Torino players immediately paid him a visit in the Turin hotel where he was residing and Mazzarri believes this show of affection only confirms he has inherited a strong group of players.

"The players had a bond with him and they did look a little down, but that's normal," Mazzarri said. "I told the lads that this just goes to show how good they are and this is a solid foundation for me because it means I've got some great players, on a human level.

"Now I'm here and I ask them to follow my ideas. I got the impression they are a good, serious group of players."

Mazzarri's first game in charge of a Serie A club since being sacked by Inter Milan in November 2014 comes against Bologna on Saturday.

"I'll try to put in my own input until tonight, but then I'll have to listen to the lads and see who can give me the best guarantees, particularly for a game which starts at 12:30," Mazzarri said.

"I've got a few ideas in my head, but I've told the lads to think positively, with enthusiasm."

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