Slaven Bilic: Dimitri Payet can be West Ham's Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

Dimitri Payet has been a stand-out player for West Ham this season

DIMITRI PAYET is West Ham’s marked man like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, claims Slaven Bilic.

 

The France international has enjoyed a blistering start to the season, bagging two goals against Newcastle in the last game.

And Bilic believes managers will start to treat the 28-year-old in the same way teams do against other game-changers like Messi and Ronaldo.

He said: “I think if the teams were analysing us before the games then I think they [Man City] should be trying to mark him anyway

“He is just a good player, I’m not comparing him to Lionel Messi or to Cristiano Ronaldo or to David Silva let’s say.

 

“But as an example for years managers are trying to block and stop those big players but they can’t do it because that’s why they’re great players.

“And to add to that Dimitri Payet is playing a position that you have to close down, no matter who plays there or who the opposition is."

However, the Croatian believes the Hammers have a way to counteract other teams nullifying his impact in games, and is not concerned.

He added: “I think that he is going to continue to play like this, especially if the team is playing for him and helping him.

“We are trying to make the situation easier for him to play and get him in the situation where he is one against one, and of course then he’s got that quality.”