Dimitri Payet is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his opposite number David Silva at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Saturday
Dimitri Payet is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his opposite number David Silva at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Frenchman has inevitably drawn comparisons with City’s silky Spaniard and Payet counts himself among the diminutive playmaker’s many admirers.
Between them, they have already created some 29 chances in the Barclays Premier League this term, and Payet knows only too well what the Hammers are up against at the weekend.
He told West Ham TV: “He's a player that I admire, with the way that he manages, practically every time that he gets the ball, to find space in behind.
“He has a truly exceptional quality of pass. I saw the Spain game during the international break where he played an unbelievable pass for Jordi Alba. I've always dreamed of being left footed, I'm right footed, he’s the type of player that I really appreciate.”
Saturday’s hosts boast the Premier League’s only 100 per cent record and they, together with the Hammers and Leicester City, are the leading goalscorers too.
And while Payet is not about to underestimate Manuel Pellegrini’s men, the former Marseille man insists West Ham can do some damage of their own.
“Of course it's a challenge, they're the leaders,” he continued. “They're still to concede a goal and they've scored a fair few too.
“We know the attacking power of Manchester City. Like at Liverpool, like at Arsenal, we’re not expected to win, so we're going there without pressure, and we're going to try to trouble them with our weapons.”
Saturday’s showdown comes hot on the heels of City’s 2-1 Champions League defeat by Juventus at the Etihad on Tuesday. Payet’s not convinced that it will have much bearing on Saturday’s game, but says the Hammers will need to make the most of even the slightest chink in the leaders’ armour to complete a famous hat-trick of away wins.
“For them, perhaps, for us it will change nothing. We've seen them in the league, Tuesday night was in the Champions League and up against Juventus.
“They're certainly going to want to make amends in the next game, but they played Tuesday night, so there may also be some fatigue, and it's up to us make the most of slightest thing that is afforded to us.”
Whatever the outcome on Saturday, Payet is in no mood to get carried away. While the prospect of playing at the Etihad is one that appeals, he thinks it best to treat the game like any other.
“These are big games, these are exciting games to play, but these are also games that there are only three points each time. So while it's true that there's perhaps bigger hype around it, ultimately there are only three points in the game.”
The Frenchman has inevitably drawn comparisons with City’s silky Spaniard and Payet counts himself among the diminutive playmaker’s many admirers.
Between them, they have already created some 29 chances in the Barclays Premier League this term, and Payet knows only too well what the Hammers are up against at the weekend.
He told West Ham TV: “He's a player that I admire, with the way that he manages, practically every time that he gets the ball, to find space in behind.
“He has a truly exceptional quality of pass. I saw the Spain game during the international break where he played an unbelievable pass for Jordi Alba. I've always dreamed of being left footed, I'm right footed, he’s the type of player that I really appreciate.”
Saturday’s hosts boast the Premier League’s only 100 per cent record and they, together with the Hammers and Leicester City, are the leading goalscorers too.
And while Payet is not about to underestimate Manuel Pellegrini’s men, the former Marseille man insists West Ham can do some damage of their own.
“Of course it's a challenge, they're the leaders,” he continued. “They're still to concede a goal and they've scored a fair few too.
“We know the attacking power of Manchester City. Like at Liverpool, like at Arsenal, we’re not expected to win, so we're going there without pressure, and we're going to try to trouble them with our weapons.”
Saturday’s showdown comes hot on the heels of City’s 2-1 Champions League defeat by Juventus at the Etihad on Tuesday. Payet’s not convinced that it will have much bearing on Saturday’s game, but says the Hammers will need to make the most of even the slightest chink in the leaders’ armour to complete a famous hat-trick of away wins.
“For them, perhaps, for us it will change nothing. We've seen them in the league, Tuesday night was in the Champions League and up against Juventus.
“They're certainly going to want to make amends in the next game, but they played Tuesday night, so there may also be some fatigue, and it's up to us make the most of slightest thing that is afforded to us.”
Whatever the outcome on Saturday, Payet is in no mood to get carried away. While the prospect of playing at the Etihad is one that appeals, he thinks it best to treat the game like any other.
“These are big games, these are exciting games to play, but these are also games that there are only three points each time. So while it's true that there's perhaps bigger hype around it, ultimately there are only three points in the game.”