|
Slaven Bilic: One look at Dimitri Payet and I wanted to sign him - and now the West Ham fans love him too
Anyone who watched the TV highlights of our 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Tuesday night, whether they are West Ham fans or not, will surely have appreciated the special talent of Dimitri Payet.
When I came to West Ham it was my number one priority for the club to sign him from Marseille – but my knowledge of him goes back a few more years.
First and foremost, my staff and I are football fans. We watch matches on TV from all over the world because we love the game.
Marseille are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and as a manager I wanted to see how they played. Even before that, when he was at Lille, I watched them in the French league and I noticed this player who was swaying, dancing around the ball, taking responsibility, making a difference.
I also took note that, although he was an individual talent, he was also looking for a pass.
When I was at Besiktas I wanted to sign him but it was impossible. When I came here though it happened – and it happened quickly.
I had no doubt he would be able to play in the Premier League. The French League is as physical as the football here. Of course you are never one hundred per cent sure how they will adapt to a new culture, different environment but as far as the football went, I knew he would be OK.
When he is in our team, his team-mates are better. You have some players who, no matter how good they are, depend on the team to create something, then demand the ball and try to do the job. Dimitri is different. You just have to give him the ball – and move. Then he will make all of you better.
Can you imagine how important Dimitri is for a player like Aaron Cresswell for example?
Aaron is an offensive full-back but he needs someone further forward to keep the ball for a few seconds so he can go on an overlap. If he has confidence that his team-mate will hold onto the ball, then he can go. If he is not sure, he may not risk it.
It’s not just about the free-kicks or goals people will watch on TV. It’s more about the bread and butter things Dimitri does which are so important for a team.
Dimitri was doing similar things at Marseille but here he feels he has more responsibility, he’s the one. I think he likes it, he enjoys it — and we enjoy him. In the dressing-room he is good, he doesn’t talk a lot but it is special when your team recognises you as a special player. The West Ham fans love him also. He says he has never had a song about him before and the reception he had when he came back from injury meant a lot to him.
Sometimes, when one player is given all the credit, it can create problems with others but he is not looking for that – he’s good with everyone. In training also, he’s not one of those who thinks ‘I am the star, I’m not going to run.’ No, when we play five-a-side, he wants to win. When he makes a mistake in training, something which doesn’t match his high standards, he goes crazy, he is angry with himself. Luka Modric is also like this.
At Bournemouth at half-time, you could see he wasn’t happy with himself. He wanted to do more – and he did.
We are all glad he is back fit and in the team.
Andy Carroll has turned a page at West Ham – we’re gutted he can’t face Newcastle United
I didn’t know Andy Carroll before I came here but of course I had heard the stories about his early career and some of the problems he had experienced.
Since I’ve been at the club though, he has been good on and off the pitch. He’s never late, a real professional.
When a hamstring injury like the one he sustained at Bournemouth happens to another player you say “unlucky.” When it happens to Andy Carroll though, it’s another story. Some people remember the history and believe there has to be another reason for all the injuries.
They see pictures of Andy in Dubai and try to make a connection. The reality is that, when the players have a few days off, as they do occasionally, many of them will fly to places like Dubai. They can afford it and, if they are fit any healthy, of course they will go, it’s the modern way of living.
For Andy though, it is a bit of a burden because he has that label and it’s very hard to get rid of it.
No-one polarises opinion like Andy. He can come back from injury, come on for 15 minutes, not score yet still I am asked if he should be in the England team. Then, if he suffers an injury, it is like ‘end of career.’ There is no in-between. It doesn’t help him.
For me, it looks like he has turned the page — he looks fit and for me it’s a big blow that he is injured because, after the Liverpool game, he looked as though he was back. He looked sharp, the pitch wasn’t too big for him, he was terrorising the defence, he was dangerous and he was very active when we didn’t have the ball.
That’s why we are gutted but we have to hope it isn’t going to be too long. There is nothing more our medical staff could do. When he is injured he comes in for treatment for hours. Against Bournemouth he was looking very good but he felt the injury when he sprinted forward. It was a long sprint yes — but a normal sprint. No more than that.
It is frustrating for everyone but especially Andy himself. He was gutted because he felt really sharp but that’s life. The consolation is it wasn’t a bad injury, as last season when he damaged his knee. It won’t fundamentally change our attitude to the transfer window. Diafra Sakho is making good progress after his thigh injury so it is the same as before. We are not looking for quantity but if someone of real quality becomes available, then we’ll do it.
Newcastle’s position surprises me...
We go to Newcastle tomorrow and there are signs they are improving, both in results and performances.
If you look at their squad on paper, they shouldn’t be where they are — it’s a big surprise for me. They are capable of scoring goals and winning matches — six against Norwich, three against Manchester United, beating Spurs away. They have a manager I really like. Steve McClaren has a lot of experience in this country, Holland and Germany.
Then again it is a good chance for us. We have to defend well as a team and I expect us, during 90 minutes, to have chances to hurt them.
|
