PAUL INCE believes West Ham are better off without Dimitri Payet.
The former Hammers ace also branded Payet disrespectful to manager Slaven Bilic, his team-mates and the fans.
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Ince – who started his career at West Ham – even believes Payet’s omission from the squad will galvanise his team-mates.
He said: “West Ham’s 3-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday showed they don’t need Dimitri Payet.
“When you have someone like Payet at West Ham you have a player that the other lads rely on.
“They look to him for a piece of magic that wins the game. They might shirk a little bit of responsibility.
“But dropping him from the squad galvanises the whole squad. Suddenly other players are stepping up and taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
“This is a team game and you can’t rely on just one individual.
“That result was massive for the club and the fans, but particularly for the players. They now believe they can go out and win convincingly without Payet in the team.”
Ince infamously was photographed wearing a Manchester United shirt before his move was confirmed.
It earned Ince dog’s abuse for years when he returned to West Ham. But the self-styled Guv’nor has always maintained he was badly advised as a 21-year-old kid at the time and had only done the picture because he was told to by his agent.
But Payet is far more experienced and a seasoned international.
Ince said: “I can understand players wanting to go and better themselves, but I don’t accept the way that some players act when they manipulate a club or a manager.
“Payet could have made his feelings clear to Slaven Bilic in private. He could have continued to play to the top of his game for the good of the team, with the understanding that if the opportunity arose he would be allowed to look into leaving.
“But instead, he’s disrespected the manager, his team-mates, the club and the fans.”
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Ince thinks West Ham have no choice but to sell Payet because his position at the club is untenable.
He said: “As a manager when you have one of your best players threatening to leave it puts you in a terrible position.
“You want to keep him, but at the same time where is the benefit of putting him in with the under-23s and letting him rot?
“The longer he sits in the stands the club are paying his wages and his transfer value is decreasing. In reality he has to go. That’s the best solution for West Ham.”
Meanwhile, Ince does not even understand why Diego Costa would be contemplating leaving Chelsea for the riches of China.
Ince won two Premier League titles, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, a European Super Cup, two FA Cup and a League Cup during his time at Manchester United.
And the former Liverpool and England star said: “I was brought up with the belief that I wanted to play for the biggest clubs in the world and playing in the most competitive competitions.
“That’s the Premier League and the Champions League. China doesn’t even compare.
“If you’re a top player why would you go when you can still have a successful career in the Premier League?
“There’s no chance I would have left Liverpool or Manchester United to go and play in China. Not even for £500,000 a week.
“If they had come calling when I was 31 and or 32 and my career was winding down, then absolutely I would have taken it.
“But as a footballer at your peak you should want to play with the best players and win trophies.
“Diego Costa is at Chelsea, scoring goals and enjoying his football, yet he’s still open to leaving for China.
“Why? £2m a month tax free is an obvious attraction, but that doesn’t substitute for winning medals and performing at the very elite in your game. That’s just pure greed.
“Whether it’s now or at of the season that isn’t the point. Costa is 28 years old. He could play at Chelsea for the next two years, earn good money, and still go to China when he’s 30.”
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