Walter Mazzarri can still rustle up a mean panettone but now he’s focused on cooking up ways to improve Watford
Hornets boss hopes beating long-term foe Antonio Conte will be the icing on the cake of his first season in English football
WALTER MAZZARRI helped out as a kid in his parent's village bakery in Italy and can still rustle up a mean panettone.
But he admits he's never even heard of Bake Off because he spends so much time trying to beat the opposition.
Mazzarri though believes tonight's match could be the icing on the cake in his first season in English football as Watford travel to Stamford Bridge to face newly-crowned Premier League champions Chelsea.
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A clash which involves him taking on his old adversary Antonio Conte who he once famously accused of nicking the formation which has since led the fellow Italian to such success here.
During the hour he spends with SunSport in his office at Watford's training ground - he smokes Marlboro Blues in the absence of any cigarettes called Marlboro Yellows - Mazzarri is open and engaging.
Behind him pinned to a board are lists of Watford players and training regimes.
But he talks about his own playing career, facing the likes of Maradona, Zico, Gullit and Rummennigge, his all-consuming passion for management, his taste in music.
And he reveals how he finally put to bed that feud with Conte to the extent he is happy his countryman has helped Chelsea lift the title.
Back in 2011 Conte, then manager of Juventus, reportedly infuriated Napoli boss Mazzarri by mirroring the 3-4-3 system he had become associated with.
Conte had always favoured a trusty 4-2-4 but when his team snatched a 3-3 draw from the brink of defeat, from that night on he became a 3-4-3 man.
Juve went on to lift the Serie A title although they lost the Coppa Italia to Napoli, Conte's only defeat of the season and Napoli's first title in over 20 years when Maradona had played for the club.
In 2013 Mazzarri led Napoli to second place behind Juve, still managed by Conte, but again their best finish in over 20 years.
Mazzarri, 55, though insists: "What happened between us then in the past. Although I don't know what formation he will play against us on Monday night!
"I hope he wins the title for them. Not just because of the Italian connection but because Chelsea deserve to win. They have had a great season.
"They are a strong team, well trained with big players although a good manager of course makes the difference.
"Before the game here at Vicarage Road, our first home match of the season last August, we talked for a long time about everything.
"There is nothing bad between us any more and I wish him all the best.
When we meet on Monday we will be safe in the Premier League and I hope be then he has won the Premier league.
"There will be less tension in the game because hopefully we will be relaxed and both reached our targets."
Mazzari, who led Napoli into the Champions League in 2012 only to be knocked out at Stamford Bridge when Branislav Ivanovic scored in extra time and the Blues went on to lift the trophy, came through the Fiorentina youth set-up as a promising midfielder.
He made the Italian under-21 team and was tipped to take over the number 10 shirt from his idol Giancarlo Antognoni - he had posters of him on his bedroom wall as a boy - but knee injuries then hampered his career.
Stints at Empoli and Cagliari gave him the chance to play against some of the greatest names in football during the heyday of Italian football before he went into management at the age of 30.
He said: "By the end I couldn't wait for my playing career to finish so I could become a manager.
"I played in the great period of Italian football in the 1980s and 1990s, the best time for Italian football, and it was a privilege to face players like Maradona and Zico but because of the injuries I never fulfilled my potential.
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"When I got to about 28 I realised that being a manager fitted my personality best."
Mazzarri did a degree in psychology and sociology while he was a player which he believes helps him to deal with today's young stars.
And among the music he likes listening to is Barry White. Apt given he is consumed by football, currently Watford, to the degree that when he talks about his job it seems to be My First, My Last, My Everything.
He said: "I don't eat much. I've had two bananas today. There is no time. If I eat I lose time. There is a canteen next door but I still don't have time.
"And when we lose a match I don't sleep the night after. I can't get any peace. I go everything in my mind and then I'm completely shattered.
"I live my job with my guts and fortunately my family are very understanding because of the time I spend here. I'd love to give up smoking but in this job it is impossible!
"I've always been curious about people. You are dealing with so many personalities and young players and it's important to understand them and create close relationships.
"I like having the players in my office, where you are sat, to speak face to face to them. That's why I need a long day and to work many hours.
"It's not enough to talk to them as a group. If I speak to them one-to-one then I can understand how best to motivate a player."
Mazzarri, who spoke to Claudio Ranieri before accepting the Watford job last summer, said: "I had done everything I could in Italy and wanted a new challenge in the Premier League.
"When I used to play Italy was the biggest league with big players and big managers. Now it's here."
When he does have any rare free-time Mazzarri loves music. He said: "Music relaxes me. Usually I listen to music in the car but I record my English lessons and listen back when I'm driving from the training ground to home.
"It's the only time I can concentrate. But if not the music I like is Barry White, Adele, Spandau Ballet, some opera at times and 70s music.
"It depends what mood I am in. At the moment I like Level 42.
"I can still make a really nice cake too from the days when I helped out in the bakery but I don't have time any more.
"Bake Off? What is that? I don't have time to watch TV either! Only football and there are a thousand matches to watch!"