I still try to treat football as a game even if there are now other considerations at stake, especially economic ones.

Dimitri Payet

Categorized in : Try Game Treat Football

I don't have to justify my behaviour.

justify behaviour

I have kids, so I can understand the image that footballers have. They are fans of some players; I see in their eyes. They admire and try to imitate their gestures, their words, their celebrations. They love Ronaldo and Messi. Since Euro 2016, though, they have no right to pronounce the name of Ronaldo!

words name eyes love

I think the season I had playing as a kid against men in Reunion toughened me up a lot and taught me how to cope with hits.

think me reunion men

I have nothing against Ronaldo.

against nothing

Arsenal are a special club for many French supporters. I watched them a lot, especially during the 'Invincible' era when they had Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord, and Robert Pires.

them club many special

The number of French players Arsenal have brought through is very impressive, and many of the players who arrived, especially the young ones, were unknown when they arrived to the general public.

unknown through who young

After Le Havre, I became the youngest player in the first division in Reunion. I made my debut at 16. That's how I got spotted by Nantes.

first how reunion division

I had spent four years at Le Havre, and when they told me they weren't keeping me, because I wasn't good for the second division, that hit me hard.

good me hard years

I don't close the door to anything.

close door anything

As long as I can play at a certain level, that's what I'll do.

level i-can play long

I feel more satisfaction - and attach greater value - to providing assists then scoring myself.

value feel myself satisfaction

I'm usually a No. 10, and the thing I most enjoy is helping my team-mates and creating goal-scoring chances for them.

most creating enjoy helping

I am used to moving homes in football, and it seems to be a recurring theme in my career.

i-am career football moving

When I joined Lille, they had a new stadium at Marseille. It was the same, so I know how important it is to clubs when they move home.

new know important home

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.

find will me play

When things are going well on the pitch, it is because I know I have the coach behind me.

behind things know 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.

best think me progress

That's the difficulty with free-kicks, as you get one, maybe two, and that's why it's tough. You have to score.

why you tough two

I don't blame Le Havre. Back then, I wasn't an easy person to handle. I was always one of the first to mess around. So there were a lot of reasons why my adventure stopped at that point.

back blame easy adventure

I try to put on a show while being effective because the spectators come to be entertained by beautiful play.

try being play beautiful