Dimitri Payet feels the number of West Ham United players signing up to the cause on long-term contracts is proof of the Club’s lofty ambitions for next season and beyond, and meant his decision to join them was never in doubt.
After pledging his future to the Hammers until 2021, Payet joins the likes of skipper Mark Noble, Winston Reid, Adrian, Aaron Cresswell and James Collins in penning new deals in the past 12 months, as the Hammers prepare for life on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The 28-year-old contends that everything is now in place for the Hammers to continue making giant leaps forward and that, says Payet, is an attractive proposition.
“I think there is everything here to make West Ham a big club,” he told West Ham TV. You need time and we'll take time, but we're all conscious of it and we all want to help grow this Club.
“West Ham have the means to fulfil their ambitions. It's true that to have a new stadium is good and to grow, the team must know how to keep its players.
“That's why it posed me no problem to extend my stay at West Ham, because I feel that the Club really has the desire to continue. Adrian has extended his contract, Ginge as well, it shows that the Club really wants to keep its players and arrive next season in the new Stadium with a competitive team.”
Payet wants to make the Hammers’ new home a fortress, just as the Boleyn Ground has long since been. Slaven Bilic’s charges are now unbeaten at home in their last 12 in all competitions and the French talisman hopes for more of the same at the former Olympic Stadium next season.
“Even to play here [at the Boleyn Ground], it's always full and there’s an exceptional atmosphere. We're going to have almost 20,000 extra seats and, if it's full, it's a going to be a magnificent atmosphere.
“I think that in the league your home matches are very important. When you have a good campaign at home and take the maximum points, it already helps to have a very good season. It will be down to us to make sure that the Stadium is paradise for us and hell for our opponents.”
Payet admits that even he couldn’t have hoped to adjust to life in the Barclays Premier League quite as quickly and dramatically as he has done, not the least with the groundswell of support from the stands.
And it’s fitting, he says, that this new contract should come hot on the heels of Tuesday night, the latest of memorable occasions in an already memorable season.
“For sure I didn't think that I'd adapt so quickly and so well at the Club,” he confirmed. “Fortunately it's happened like that and all the better, but it's always complicated to adapt oneself to a new Club. I feel very good here and I want to stay!
“I'm particularly happy that this new contract has happened now, after the success of a magnificent victory against Liverpool, where there was truly a harmony between the team and the supporters. So I'd say it's welcome after such a match.”
After pledging his future to the Hammers until 2021, Payet joins the likes of skipper Mark Noble, Winston Reid, Adrian, Aaron Cresswell and James Collins in penning new deals in the past 12 months, as the Hammers prepare for life on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The 28-year-old contends that everything is now in place for the Hammers to continue making giant leaps forward and that, says Payet, is an attractive proposition.
“I think there is everything here to make West Ham a big club,” he told West Ham TV. You need time and we'll take time, but we're all conscious of it and we all want to help grow this Club.
“West Ham have the means to fulfil their ambitions. It's true that to have a new stadium is good and to grow, the team must know how to keep its players.
“That's why it posed me no problem to extend my stay at West Ham, because I feel that the Club really has the desire to continue. Adrian has extended his contract, Ginge as well, it shows that the Club really wants to keep its players and arrive next season in the new Stadium with a competitive team.”
Payet wants to make the Hammers’ new home a fortress, just as the Boleyn Ground has long since been. Slaven Bilic’s charges are now unbeaten at home in their last 12 in all competitions and the French talisman hopes for more of the same at the former Olympic Stadium next season.
“Even to play here [at the Boleyn Ground], it's always full and there’s an exceptional atmosphere. We're going to have almost 20,000 extra seats and, if it's full, it's a going to be a magnificent atmosphere.
“I think that in the league your home matches are very important. When you have a good campaign at home and take the maximum points, it already helps to have a very good season. It will be down to us to make sure that the Stadium is paradise for us and hell for our opponents.”
Payet admits that even he couldn’t have hoped to adjust to life in the Barclays Premier League quite as quickly and dramatically as he has done, not the least with the groundswell of support from the stands.
And it’s fitting, he says, that this new contract should come hot on the heels of Tuesday night, the latest of memorable occasions in an already memorable season.
“For sure I didn't think that I'd adapt so quickly and so well at the Club,” he confirmed. “Fortunately it's happened like that and all the better, but it's always complicated to adapt oneself to a new Club. I feel very good here and I want to stay!
“I'm particularly happy that this new contract has happened now, after the success of a magnificent victory against Liverpool, where there was truly a harmony between the team and the supporters. So I'd say it's welcome after such a match.”