Monday 18 April 2016 09:51, UK
Thierry Henry caught up with West Ham's signing of the summer Dimitri Payet to discuss his stellar first season in the Premier League.
The Hammers travel to the King Power Stadium on Super Sunday looking to halt Leicester City's charge for the Premier League title.
Ahead of the game, Payet sat down with his compatriot, and Sky Sports pundit, Henry to discuss life in the Premier League, free-kicks, his return to the France national team and his long-term aspirations.
Read on to discover what one of the current stars of the Premier League had to say to one of the all-time greats in a wide-ranging interview...
HENRY: I'd like to know what attracted you to the Premier League?
PAYET: I think it came from watching matches. When I was a Ligue 1 player and there were big games on, as they say here on a Sunday afternoon, you could see the stadiums and the atmosphere, it was amazing. I really wanted to experience it and that's exactly what's happening at the moment.
HENRY: At the time (you signed for West Ham), I was surprised. With no disrespect to West Ham, of course, I'd like to know if you had any offers from other clubs?
PAYET: Other clubs did get in contact, but it didn't go further than that. My choice was to come to West Ham, mainly because I'd spoken to the manager. Speaking to the coach has been my number-one criterion at every club I've played for to find out what he expects from me, how he will make me improve and that he'll play me.
West Ham was the best choice for me on the back of my best season in Ligue 1. I don't think there was much room left for progress in Ligue 1. I'd done almost everything there. Coming to England to play in a different league under a coach who already wanted me when he was at Besiktas... I understood that I'd be an important player for him and a club like West Ham that, as you said, is not one of the biggest, was the best platform for me to continue my development.
HENRY: At West Ham, I can see how the players look at you. They know perfectly well that you can make the difference and they'll defend for you. Are there any players like that who say such things to you?
PAYET: I'd say we have three of them here: (Cheikhou) Kouyate, (Angelo) Ogbonna, the centre-back, and (Mark) Noble. Strangely enough, it's the guys who do the running. They run for you. It's strange, it puts pressure on me, but a positive type. I know that when he gives me the ball, he expects me to do something positive for the team. They relieve me of my defensive duties. It's a big statement of confidence for me and it shows they have faith in me.
HENRY: You've worked hard and you've made it back into the national team. How did it go with Didier (Deschamps), who I know well and I know what he's like?
PAYET: Yes, we explained a few things to each other. We hadn't seen each other or spoken in almost a year. We had a quick talk and he told me what he expected from me and that's what I'm like. I'm not speaking about being a starter or a substitute, but he at least made things clear. From that moment onwards, I felt good and in terms of the group, I was looked at differently because I was playing in the Premier League. What I've been doing at West Ham didn't have the same impact as what I was doing at Marseille. I really felt that.
HENRY: I have to speak to you about your free-kicks because you have your own technique. Did you have to work hard on it? Do you still work on it?
PAYET: I worked on it, I worked on it until I scored the first one. When the first one went in, I stopped because I felt I'd found the right technique. You already have the shot, it's about the steps and the way you take it.
As soon as I worked that out, I stopped and it's been the same story since. I've been taking two in training and before the match. That's the difficulty with free-kicks as you get one, maybe two and that's why it's tough. You have to score.
I'm happy because free-kicks and set-pieces have become very important in football nowadays. It's another side to my game and I'm happy about it.
HENRY: What does the future hold for Dimitri Payet? Can you see yourself at West Ham in a year, two years or even three years? Are you here for the long term?
PAYET: Yes, because I never could have imagined experiencing a year quite like this one. Things are going well and I'm enjoying it. The team is good, we have a great coach and the fans are amazing, so I want to go far with this club because I'm in this position thanks to them offering the best possible conditions for me to express myself on the pitch.
Catch the full exclusive interview with Dimitri Payet, followed by live coverage of Leicester v West Ham, on Super Sunday, 12.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
