Ever since revealing to reporters that Dimitiri Payet has asked to leave West Ham last week, Slaven Bilic has naturally become inundated by questions regarding the stylish French playmaker.
The 29-year-old has even threatened to fake an injury in order not to have to play for West Ham again, just months after becoming a legitimate Premier League star following a phenomenal season.
While Payet is attempting to force a move back to former club Marseille, West Ham fans are busy creating anti-Payet chants, with particularly x-rated effort doing the rounds yesterday.
On the topic of swearing, Bilic is a man who loves it. You may recall his f-laden outburst during Euros coverage while live on ITV, which further endeared himself to the footballing world. And at his press conference following West Ham's win yesterday - which featured an extraordinary bicycle kick by Big Andy Carroll - he was at it again.
Asked about Payet once more, Bilic exclaimed:
Ask the chairman. I'm not there to close the door or to open the door.
But I told you, let's talk about Andy Carroll. Let's talks about [Darren] Randolph. Let's talk about Mark Noble, for fuck's sake.
Sorry.
They deserve for us to talk hours about them.
Slaven was not in the mood to discuss Payet in his post-match "Let's talk about Andy Carroll for f**k sake!"
Brilliant. pic.twitter.com/WwvwsV6lQV— West Ham Social (@WestHamSocial) January 15, 2017
Get in there, 'Dazzler' Randolph. It's great to hear Ireland's goalkeeper get singled out for praise considering his recent form for both club and country.
As for Bilic's annoyance over Payet's antics - well, it may be somewhat hypocritical. As Toby Gannon reflects in The Sun today, 19 years ago the Croatian manager forced a move from West Ham to Everton, claiming Everton were a bigger club.
Then-West Ham boss Harry Redknapp said in March 1997:
He’s on a fantastic contract, the highest paid player in the club’s history. He signed it... Now he wants a move and feels Everton are a big club, so there’s nothing we can do. West Ham are a big club in our eyes, but he feels otherwise.
Bilic, who joined Everton for £4.5m that summer, is reported as saying of his move:
I had to do this. We are professionals – all players know, if anyone gets the chance of a big club, he must take it.
The key difference between he and Payet, however, is that Bilic never refused to play for West Ham. Nothing's sacred anymore, eh?
