Payet explains close bond with Bilic

Dimtri Payet has spoken of his close relationship with Slaven Bilic and even compared it to a father/son style

“We speak a lot – he is quite close to me, I wouldn’t say father and son, but a bit in that style. I like to have a good relationship with my manager. I am someone who responds better to praise.”

“I like to be given ­responsibility. When it goes badly, he can tell me, when it goes well, he can say as well. I like this relationship. It is going well and he has given me a lot of trust and I have tried to give it back on the pitch.

“I knew from Joe Cole [a team-mate at Lille] that this was a special club and had a way of playing. From the first match, I quickly understood that the fans really like that and I was going to like it here.”