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WALT A CHEEK

Watford players stunned as new boss Walter Mazzarri SMOKES in dressing room

Former Inter Milan boss lit a cigarette during the break of a pre-season friendly against QPR in front of baffled stars

WATFORD boss stunned his players by SMOKING in the dressing room at half-time.

The former Inter Milan and Sampdoria manager lit a cigarette during the break of a pre-season friendly against QPR at Loftus Road.

 Mazzarri was known to smoke publicly while coach of Italian sides such as Napoli
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Mazzarri was known to smoke publicly while coach of Italian sides such as NapoliCredit: AFP
 Watford players were stunned when serial smoker Mazzarri lit up a fag in the dressing room at Loftus Road
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Watford players were stunned when serial smoker Mazzarri lit up a fag in the dressing room at Loftus RoadCredit: AFP

Mazzarri, 54, who has only just taken over at Vicarage Road, has also been smoking during training sessions at the club’s London Colney HQ.

Watford, who visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, suffered a 2-0 loss to Rangers 10 days ago.

Italian coach Mazzarri, who took over from Quique Flores, has yet to speak English and is using an interpreter.

And he also left his squad frustrated by insisting they spend TWO WEEKS at a St Albans hotel during pre-season without letting the players go home.

A source told Sunsport: “The players are now used to lots of different managers over the last few years but the smoking – particularly in the dressing room – surprised them.”

 Watford lost 2-0 at Championship side QPR in a pre-season friendly
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Watford lost 2-0 at Championship side QPR in a pre-season friendlyCredit: PA:Press Association

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also likes to smoke at the club’s Melwood training ground.

He has also requested a smoking room in the team hotel for Liverpool’s away games this season.

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