Proud Bilic has dig at Payet after Hammers win
LONDON: West Ham manager Slaven Bilic couldn’t resist a dig at want- away star Dimitri Payet following the impressive 3- 0 win over Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The 48-year- old Croat said his players had been ‘ magnificent’ and showed it was more about the team than any individual player as they ended a streak of three games without a win or a goal.
Payet — whose photograph outside the ground had to be guarded by a steward and the fans normal laudatory chant of him was replaced by more abusive terms — has said he wants to leave and won’t play for them.
His former club Marseille is believed to want to re- sign him for £ 20 mil lion ($ 24 mil lion, 22.3million euros) but co- owner David Sul livan wrote in the matchday programme they will not grant the 29-year- old’s demand to move.
“Payet is a great player so you are losing quality, but the team showed it is about the team and not individuals. This is a great example for that,” said Bilic.
“Michail Antonio had flu and a temperature of 38.4 last night. He showed brilliant determination, brilliant quality.”
Despite suf fering from f lu Antonio set up all three goals, Sofiane Feghouli’s first in the Premier League, a bri l liant bicycle kick from Carroll and Manuel Lanzini rounded it off with his fourth goal in as many matches against Palace. — AFP