Payet unfazed by media attention, says Bilic

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 17th September 2015

Slaven Bilic believes Dimitri Payet is unlikely to be affected by the media attention he has attracted since his match-winning performance against Newcastle.

The 28-year-old French attacking midfielder has taken the Premier League by storm since his £10.75million move from Marseille in the summer and scored both goals in Monday night's 2-0 win against the Magpies.

And Bilic, speaking to reporters this morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester City believes that West Ham's number 27 has all the attributes to carry on in a similar vein, regardless of the scrutiny to which he has been exposed in recent days.

"I think he is going to continue to play like this, especially if the team are helping him," said Bilic.

"We're not giving him the ball when he's alone against three or four players, we are trying to make the situations easier for him - to get him in a situation where he is one against one. Then he has got that quality.

"Dimitri is playing in a position that you have to close down no matter who plays there. If the other teams were analysing us before the games I think they would have tried to mark him anyway.

"He is a good player but I am not comparing him to Messi, Ronaldo or even Silva. For many years managers have been trying to stop those big players but but they can't do it. That's why they are great players."

And Bilic refuted suggestions that Payet still needed time to settle into his new club - insisting that the culture shock might not be quite as harsh as suggested in some quarters.

"Some players need some time but I think we talk too much about the Premier League effect," he added.

"Nobody talks that much about players moving from France to Germany, or to Italy, or whether they're going to be able to make it or how much much time they're going to need. It's a new country, a new environment and everything but Dimitri is 28 and a really class player.

"It's not his first move either - he played for Lille, he played for St Etienne and he played for Marseille which is an extremely big club.

"There is big pressure with big responsibility. He was a key player there and still he's not completely settled, but he's such a class player and a good professional that his form doesn't surprise me."

Bilic, whose squad was boosted by 13 new arrivals during the transfer has been similarly encouraged by the start Victor Moses has made since arriving at the Boleyn on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

"Victor is a class player but he hasn't had that continuity at one club in the Premier League, which is very important for you to settle down," surmised Bilic.

"If people are saying he didn't make it, it's because he didn't make it at Chelsea, or maybe Liverpool. He's a well known name here. Sometimes it's hard because you aren't getting many chances as they buy £20m/£30m players - and as soon as you don't make it in a couple of games, you are out. Then it's very hard.

"But last year he played at Stoke and he was one of their best players, so he definitely has enough quality to make a difference in the Premier League. His first game was very good for us, not only because of that fantastic sprint for the goal but because of his composure, his linking play and his work-rate - which was very good."

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