West Ham United

Dmitri Payet: 'West Ham United's long-term aim is European qualification'

By Colm Hayes, Reporter | 19 September 2015

West Ham United's summer signing Dmitri Payet believes that the club can reach European competition in the next few seasons with Slaven Bilic at the helm.

West Ham United playmaker Dmitri Payet has said that the club are good enough to secure European qualification over the next few seasons.

Under manager Slaven Bilic, who believes that Payet can become West Ham's version of Manchester City's David Silva, the summer signing thinks that the team have the quality to make it to European competition.

"When Slaven spoke to me about the project he had here it was a really interesting one and it was a really easy decision for me to sign here on a long deal," the 28-year-old told Sky Sports News.

"When the new coach came in he had a new style of attacking football that he wanted to implement and that was exciting for an attack-minded player like myself.

"Then of course there is the new stadium coming along which is always an important stage for a club. Everyone here is very keen to improve on what we did last season when we finished 12th. We think we can do that and in the long term we are aiming to secure European football."

West Ham, who have already beaten both Arsenal and Liverpool away from home, travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City on Saturday.