Daily WHUFC News - 14th March 2016

Man Utd 1-1 West Ham United
WHUFC.com
Emirates FA Cup sixth round

Dimitri Payet scored another wonder goal but West Ham had to settle for a
replay after Anthony Martial grabbed a late equaliser for Manchester United
in Sunday's Emirates FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford. The Hammers fans
were dreaming about a return to Wembley after Payet netted a superb
free-kick from 30 yards which gave David de Gea no chance in the United
goal. But despite another impressive performance, United forced the replay
when Martial met a cross from Ander Herrera and struck the ball past Darren
Randolph. The tie is still firmly alive and it promises to be another
special night under the lights at the Boleyn Ground for the replay. Few
could forget Angelo Ogbonna's winning goal against Liverpool earlier in the
competition and the Hammers fans will be hoping for another famous night in
east London. The Hammers enjoyed a strong start to the game and could have
opened the scoring after just four minutes. Andy Carroll played a great ball
into the path of Emmanuel Emenike who was through on goal but he struck his
shot just past the post. The away side came close again on nine minutes when
Aaron Cresswell burst clear down the left hand side and played in the
perfect cross for Carroll who superbly attacked the ball and saw his header
fall inches over the bar.

Roared on by 9,000 Hammers fans inside Old Trafford, the away side continued
to create the best openings and had another golden chance to break the
deadlock on 19 minutes. Mark Noble played a great ball into Payet who sent
Cresswell away with an overlap. The Hammers full-back crossed the ball in
for Emenike who was unmarked inside the area but directed his header
straight at De Gea. In an open contest United then raced down the other end
and Martial played the ball in for Herrera who volleyed wide of the goal.
Bilic was forced to make a change just after the hour mark when Winston Reid
was forced to leave the field through injury and was replaced by Pedro
Obiang. But despite the enforced change, the Hammers still looked the most
likely to open the scoring and had strong claims for a penalty turned down
on 64 minutes after Payet appeared to be brought down inside the area by
Marcos Rojo but referee Martin Atkinson ignored the pleas from the players
and waved for play to continue.

The deadlock was finally broken on 68 minutes and it was that man Payet who
got on the scoresheet once again after he was brought down by Daley Blind 30
yards from goal. The French star picked himself up and curled an unstoppable
free-kick past De Gea into the top corner. It was another superb strike from
Payet and took his tally to eleven goals this season. But the Hammers were
forced to settle for a replay after United grabbed an equaliser on 84
minutes. Herrera's cross picked out Martial at the far post and he managed
to strike the ball past Randolph and into the back of the net.

The Hammers could have won it late on when Michail Antonio's low shot
produced a superb save by de Gea diving low to his right hand side and he
then had the ball in the back of the net, but his effort was ruled out for
offside. Both sides had to settle for a draw and it promises to be another
great contest when the replay takes place at the Boleyn Ground.

Manchester United: De Gea; Varela (Darmian 87), Smalling, Rojo, Blind;
Carrick, Fellaini (Schweinsteiger 76), Lingard, Herrera, Martial; Rashford
(Memphis 76)
Subs not used: Romero, Williams, Schneiderlin, Januzaj
Goal: Martial 83
Bookings: Fellaini, Carrick

West Ham United: Randolph; Antonio, Reid (Obiang 62), Ogbonna, Cresswell;
Noble, Kouyate, Lanzini; Emenike (Sakho 64), Carroll (Valencia 81), Payet
Subs not used: Adrian, O'Brien, Song, Moses
Goal: Payet 68
Bookings: Reid, Payet, Kouyate, Antonio

Referee: Martin Atkinson

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Bilic - We'll be confident for the replay
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic admitted to a tinge of disappointment after his West Ham United
team were pegged back in their Emirates FA Cup quarter-final tie at
Manchester United on Sunday.

The Hammers and the Red Devils will have to face off again at the Boleyn
Ground for a place in the competition's last four after Anthony Martial's
late equaliser cancelled out Dimitri Payet's wonderful free kick.

With the score locked at 1-1 after 90 enthralling minutes, a replay is
needed to split the teams and Bilic says the Hammers can approach that with
real confidence.

He said: "At Old Trafford, it is very hard to play with 75,000 fans and this
atmosphere. It [the replay] is going to be a tough game, but I fancy us
because we're going to be even more confident.

"We could have held on for 1-0 and on counter-attacks I was expecting to
create one, two or three more clear-cut chances. Our dressing room was, and
still is, very silent. I'm not over the moon but it means we are moving in a
good direction."

Bilic also felt the Hammers could have had more luck with the big calls in
the game.

He added: "There were a couple of appeals for handball, but nothing in them.
The one on Payet, for all the neutrals, is a penalty. You know you are
taking a big gamble [going to ground] in the box.

"And then for the equaliser, it is hard for the referee to see it, but for
me it is a clear foul from Schweinsteiger, when the ball is nowhere near
him.

"If Randy wasn't fouled, then he would have been there to stop the ball.
It's hard for the referee, but if you ask me, two crucial decisions have
gone against us."

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Noble - What Dimi's doing is special
WHUFC.com

Mark Noble says the Hammers will take great confidence from Sunday's game at
Manchester United, even if they had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Anthony
Martial's late equaliser for the Red Devils.

West Ham looked set for Wembley when Dimitri Payet's unstoppable free kick
gave them the lead midway through the second half, only for Martial's far
post finish to level the scores.

However, Noble took great heart from his team's performance and is looking
forward to taking Louis van Gaal's men back to the Boleyn Ground.

He said: "Coming to Old Trafford and playing the way we did, especially in
the first half [is great]. We probably should have been two up in the first
20 minutes, Emi had a couple of great chances, Andy had a couple too.

"What a fantastic goal it was from Dimi, another great free kick. What he's
doing at the minute is special.

"We're a little disappointed to be honest because we should have come away
with the win, but credit to Man Utd, they fought back.

"We'll take a look of confidence from that today and now we've got them at
Upton Park which is another great game for us there."

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Slaven Bilic: West Ham boss confident of beating Man Utd in replay
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic "fancies" his side to beat Manchester United in
the FA Cup quarter-final replay at Upton Park - the last cup tie there. The
teams drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday with the winners of the replay
moving into the semi-finals at Wembley. "It's going to be a tough game, but
I fancy us because we're going to be even more confident," Bilic told BBC
Sport. "Manchester United are a different team when they play away from home
and don't have that same confidence."

West Ham are moving to the Olympic Stadium next season so the game against
Manchester United will be the last at the Hammers' current Upton Park home.
"With the history of our stadium it's going to a be another historic game
and you can't ask for more," added Bilic. "But to make history we have to
beat them - we won't put it in the books if we lose the last game. "It's
going to be another epic home FA Cup match and we couldn't ask for more -
it's like Spielberg."

Dimitri Payet went to ground under a challenge from Marcos Rojo. West Ham
wanted a penalty and Manchester United wanted Payet, who was on a yellow
card, to be sent off for diving West Ham had an appeal for a penalty
rejected after Dimitri Payet appeared to be brought down by Marcos Rojo, but
referee Martin Atkinson ignored the appeals. Manchester United's players
believed Payet, who was already on a yellow card, had dived but no action
was taken against him before he scored from a 40-yard free-kick minutes
later. "For me it is a penalty, Rojo slides from behind and is nowhere near
the ball - a clear penalty," said Bilic. "When you are sliding in the box
you are taking a big gamble and a big risk. Nobody in the world can say
there wasn't a touch. It is definitely not a dive."

The Hammers boss was also unhappy that Manchester United's equaliser, which
was scored by Anthony Martial, was allowed to stand as midfielder Bastian
Schweinsteiger appeared to block West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph. "It is
an obvious foul from Schweinsteiger on Randy," added Bilic. "He would've
definitely got to the ball. "There were two crucial decisions but I don't
want to spoil the game by moaning about the referee."

Manchester United's 'amazing spirit'

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal refused to comment on the referee's
performance, but praised his side's effort three days after playing on
Thursday in their 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the first leg of their last-16
Europa League tie. "The difference was that we have played a match on
Thursday and they have the whole week of preparation," said Van Gaal. "In
the second half we were the better team, they scored a free-kick, we are
behind and have also played against WBA and Liverpool this week and lost.
"But when you can come back from that I think it is amazing spirit in the
team in spite of a very nasty week."

On the two controversial decisions by Atkinson, Van Gaal said: "We can
discuss every decision of the referee but I only can say we are very unlucky
this season with referees' decisions. "He has to decide within one second.
That is more difficult than I can do."

'A perfect moment of pure class'

Hammers boss Bilic also praised Payet for his spectacular free-kick that
gave the Hammers the lead. "My assistants told me he scored a similar one in
the warm-up," said Bilic. "He also scored against Blackburn in the FA Cup
and I said to myself: 'It is a bit too far, it has got to be special.' "It
was a perfect moment of pure class and even David de Gea couldn't do
anything about it."

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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United
SUN, 13 MAR 2016FA CUP - SIXTH ROUND
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Old Trafford

Anthony Martial's late equaliser earned Manchester United an FA Cup
quarter-final replay at West Ham United after Dimitri Payet's magnificent
free-kick threatened to heap further misery on manager Louis van Gaal.
Payet's 68th-minute strike, curved high past United keeper David de Gea from
30 yards, looked to have put the Hammers on course for a semi-final at
Wembley. United, however, were revitalised by the introduction of Bastian
Schweinsteiger for the struggling Marouane Fellaini and Martial ensured the
teams would meet again at the Boleyn Ground with a far-post finish seven
minutes from time.

Michael Carrick shot just wide and De Gea saved superbly from Michail
Antonio in a frantic finale - while West Ham were frustrated earlier when
referee Martin Atkinson ignored penalty appeals after Payet fell under
challenge from Marcos Rojo.

Martial offers Van Gaal salvation

In amongst the wreckage of this traumatic season for Manchester United, the
£36m purchase of Martial has been one of the few shining lights.
And the 20-year-old came to the rescue of Van Gaal just as West Ham looked
on course to knock the home team out of the FA Cup. Martial was tireless
throughout and got his reward when he reacted first at the far post, turning
in Ander Herrera's cross as Diafra Sakho hesitated.
If United had gone out here, Van Gaal would have been left banking on his
side delivering the sort of comeback they currently look incapable of
producing as they try to overturn Liverpool's 2-0 lead in the last 16 of the
Europa League at Old Trafford on Thursday. It would have left Van Gaal
effectively facing the end of United's season - and almost certainly the end
of his reign at the end of the season. Martial's goal at least gives Van
Gaal and United something extra to fight for in the quarter-final replay.

The genius of Dimitri Payet

West Ham brought 9,000 fans to Old Trafford - and the name of one man was on
their lips before, during and after this FA Cup quarter-final.
"We've Got Payet, Dimitri Payet" has become an anthem at the Boleyn Ground
and the 28-year-old signed from Marseille for a fee in excess of £10m last
summer justified every part of his status as the new idol of West Ham. When
he lined up his free-kick, it looked almost too far out even for a player
who has made a habit of producing the spectacular this season. However, he
somehow found the only part of the net that was out of reach of the
outstretched arm of De Gea. World class. Payet's impact at West Ham has been
so big he was swiftly rewarded with a new, extended contract to ward off
potential interest from elsewhere. West Ham will have a new beginning at the
Olympic Stadium next season - the brilliant Frenchman will be the symbol of
that fresh start.

Fellaini symbol of Man Utd's woes

In the first half Fellaini made no tackles, interceptions, blocks or
clearances. He also lost possession 11 times, more than any of his
team-mates The giant figure of Fellaini has always been a square peg in a
round hole at Old Trafford, a player out of step with United's traditions of
fast, attacking play. It has not always been the Belgian's fault, but the
regard in which he is held was emphasised by the loud cheers that greeted
his substitution, the loudest of the day at that point. And his cause was
not helped by the transformation in United's play once he went off and the
veteran Schweinsteiger was introduced with 16 minutes left. United had been
one-dimensional and stodgy, with too many long balls and unimaginative ideas
that proved easy for West Ham's defence to deal with.

Van Gaal's changes saw United finally produce width and threat, with the
31-year-old German showing all his experience to spread the play and give
the Hammers something to think about. The sudden build-up of pressure led to
Martial's equaliser - so perhaps a lesson learned for Van Gaal.

Man of the match - Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Frenchman Payet has also picked up 10 assists in his maiden campaign with
the Hammers

What did the managers say?

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal: "West Ham were the better team before
they scored but then we created chances too. It was a fantastic free-kick.
"We have played a game against Liverpool on Thursday and they had the whole
week to prepare and we could come back and show a big revival. I have to
give a lot of compliments to my team. They were mentally tired after
Liverpool and also in the body. "It was a fantastic match between two good
sides and I am very happy that my team showed their spirit after a nasty
week."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "Manchester United are a different team when
they play away and don't have that confidence. "Here, it is very hard to
play with 75,000 fans and this atmosphere. It (the replay) is going to be a
tough game, but I fancy us because we're going to be even more confident. We
could have held on for 1-0 and on counter-attacks I was expecting to create
one, two or three more clear-cut chances. Our dressing room was, and still
is, very silent. I'm not over the moon but it means we are moving in a good
direction."

The stats you need to know

Man United are unbeaten in their past 10 home meetings with West Ham in all
competitions, though the last two have ended in draws.
The Red Devils have had 39 shots (including blocked) in their two meetings
with West Ham this season, though just three have been on target (one goal).
Every one of Dimitri Payet's last eight goals in all competitions for West
Ham have been away from home.
Willian of Chelsea (six) is the only Premier League player to score more
free-kicks in all competitions this season than Payet (three).
Only Wayne Rooney (18) has been directly involved in more goals than Anthony
Martial (16) in all competitions for Man United this season.
However, this was Martial's first goal in six games, since a 2-1 loss at
Sunderland in February.

What next?

Manchester United next play in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday, taking
on Liverpool at Old Trafford with a 2-0 deficit from the first leg (20:05
GMT). The Hammers' next game is on Saturday, away to Chelsea in the Premier
League (15:00 GMT).

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Manchester United 1-1 West Ham: Anthony Martial forces replay after Dimitri
Payet's cracker
By Jack Wilkinson
Last Updated: 13/03/16 8:56pm
SSN

Anthony Martial kept Manchester United's FA Cup hopes alive as his late
equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against West Ham at Old Trafford and forced a
quarter-final replay. Dimitri Payet's sumptuous 68th-minute free-kick looked
to have sent the Hammers to Wembley but the hosts rallied, with Martial
levelling the score seven minutes from time. The result sees both sides join
Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford in Monday's semi-final draw, while West
Ham's Boleyn Ground will play host to Manchester United in its final FA Cup
game before the Hammers move to the Olympic Stadium.

With holders Arsenal falling out of the competition at the hands of Watford
earlier in the day, the winner of Sunday's tie would have been tipped as cup
favourites. The contest was the second game in a defining week for Louis van
Gaal, who made three changes to the side which was overpowered in Thursday's
Europa League defeat at Liverpool. Slaven Bilic made three changes too, with
Andy Carroll and Winston Reid recalled into the starting line-up as the
Hammers looked to extend a four-game winning streak.

And it was the visitors who created the better chances in a cautious first
half. First Carroll played strike partner Emmanuel Emenike through on goal,
only for the Nigerian to drag his shot wide on six minutes, before Carroll's
thunderous 10th-minute header missed the target. Emenike should have put the
Hammers in front on 18 minutes but he headed Aaron Cresswell's cross
straight at David de Gea, who gratefully gathered.

West Ham struggled to deal with Martial's pace down the left but nothing
came of the Frenchman's attacking threat as the home side failed to register
a shot on target in the first half. Ander Herrera missed the clearest
opening shortly before the half-hour mark, firing Marcos Rojo's cut-back
wide. The second half was strewn with a host of penalty claims, but referee
Martin Atkinson chose not to penalise Angelo Ogbonna or Reid for alleged
handballs, before Rojo escaped punishment for appearing to trip Payet at the
other end.

Atkinson did award Payet a free-kick after he was clipped by Daley Blind
shortly after, and West Ham's talisman produced a stunning 30-yard effort
which beat De Gea at full stretch. As the 9,000 travelling away supporters
began to sing Wembley chants, Payet could have sealed their passage 13
minutes from time only for Guillermo Varela to keep the home side's hopes
alive with a last-gasp interception, after a deflection fell kindly for the
forward.

Six minutes later the hosts were level. Jesse Lingard and Herrera combined
to tee up Martial and the 20-year-old hooked the ball past Darren Randolph,
who appeared to have been impeded by substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Michael Carrick came close late on, dragging a shot wide against his former
club, before the visitors' late assault proved to be fruitless, with De Gea
thwarting Michail Antonio in the closing stages.

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Louis van Gaal accuses Dimitri Payet of diving before his spectacular West
Ham opener in Old Trafford draw
20:14, 13 MAR 2016 UPDATED 20:14, 13 MAR 2016
BY DAVID MCDONNELL
The French playmaker netted a superb free-kick in the FA Cup quarter-final,
which was cancelled out by Anthony Martial's late equaliser
The Mirror

Louis van Gaal accused Dimitri Payet of diving as Manchester United scored
late to earn an FA Cup replay. Anthony Martial's 83rd-minute equaliser
denied West Ham a semi-final place, after Payet had given them the lead with
a stunning 35-yard free-kick. But Van Gaal suggested Payet should not have
been on the pitch to score the 68th-minute goal after accusing him of diving
to try to con referee Martin Atkinson. Payet was already on a booking when
he went down in the United area under a challenge from Marcos Rojo, but
Atkison chose not to award a penalty. Van Gaal said: "Payet was more or less
diving. He was maybe touched, but not enough to fall like that. "But there
are always discussions about the decisions of the referee."

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic rejected van Gaal's claim, insisting Payet was
fouled, and also claimed United's equaliser should have been disallowed for
a foul on his goalkeeper Darren Randolph by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Substitute Schweinsteiger clattered into Randolph as Martial swept the ball
into the net for United's late leveller, leaving Bilic furious. For me, it
should have been a penalty on Dimitri," said Bilic. "A dive? Come on. If you
have a screen I am going to show you and defend my point at Cambridge
[Union]. "You can clearly see there is contact. So it's definitely not a
dive, 100 per cent not a dive. "If you're sliding in your own box from
behind, then you're taking a risk. It wasn't nasty, it was mistimed, nowhere
near the ball. "And it was an obvious foul from Schweinsteiger on Randloph,
because if he didn't, then he would have got to the ball."

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West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet hailed by Slaven Bilic after scoring 'the
perfect' free-kick
21:40, 13 MAR 2016 UPDATED 22:13, 13 MAR 2016
BY DAVID MCDONNELL
Payet scored a long-range free-kick to give them Hammers the lead at Old
Trafford, which Bilic admitted he thought was too far out to beat David De
Gea
The Mirror

So Upton Park will play host to a final FA Cup tie before West Ham say an
emotional farewell to their home for the past 112 years. When that replay
against Manchester United will be is anyone's guess, given the lack of
available space in the already congested fixture calendar. But West Ham were
fully deserving of another crack at Louis van Gaal's side and, in truth,
should have already booked their semi-final place after outplaying them at
Old Trafford. A remarkable season for Hammers, which has seen them win at
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton, looked set to yield another
famous win at the Theatre or Dreams.
Whether Dimitri Payet should have been on the pitch when he opened the
scoring in the 68th minute is open to debate. The playmaker had earlier been
booked for a tug on Jesse Lingard, when he went to ground in search of a
penalty under a challenge from Marcos Rojo. Referee Martin Atkinson was not
convinced, although he chose not to show Payet a second yellow card for
simulation - and a subsequent red, meaning he remained on the pitch to
plunder the opening goal. If Payet was perhaps lucky to remain on the pitch,
there was nothing fortuitous about his stunning opener, an
expertly-dispatched free-kick from 30 yards which gave United goalkeeper
David De Gea no chance.
Payet's moment of magic was no surprise to his team-mates, who watch him
produce such heroics on a regular basis. "He practises those free-kicks a
lot and eight times out of 10 they go in," said West Ham keeper Darren
Randolph. "He can produce them in the big moments." Hammers boss Slaven
Bilic called Payet's strike "a pure class of magic" and it was hard to
disagree with that assessment of such a majestic strike. "My assistants tell
me he scored as similar one during the warm-up," said Bilic. "He scored one
like that against Blackburn in the FA Cup. "So he's got it. But before he
took it I said to myself 'it's a bit too far out to beat De Gea and has to
be special to beat him from there'. "But, make no mistake, it was a pure
class of magic. The perfect one."

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Nordtveit confirms German exit
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 13, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

25-year-old Norwegian midfielder Havard Nordtveit has today confirmed he is
leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer when his contract expires.
Gladbach have also confirmed that Nordtveit is heading to England. German
newspaper Bild backs rumours in the UK that Nordveit's destination in
England is West Ham where he is said to join on a free transfer this summer.
Nordtveit spent three years with Arsenal youth between 2007 and 2010,
however, he never made a first team appearance, spending most of his time on
loan. This season Nordtveit has scored four times in 23 Bundesliga matches
for Gladbach. However, Nordtveit is more of a defensive midfielder, who, if
signed by the Hammers, could challenge replace Alex Song whose loan expires
at the end of this season. Borussia Dortmund, Schalke,Atletico Madrid and
Arsenal were also said to be keen on signing the player. The midfielder has
been rumoured to have signed a pre-contract with the Hammers.

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Slav angry at two poor decisions
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 13, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Slaven Bilic is no moaner but he was upset with two crucial decision which
cost the Hammers big time at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Dimi Payet was clearly brought down in the box by Marcus Rojo but
refereeMartin Atkinson allowed play to go on when it was clear the fould ha
been committed.

And if that wasn't enough Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph was clearly
fouled for the United equaliser.

Slav said: There were two crucial decisions for the penalty on Payet – every
neutral would see that as a penalty.

"And it was clear that Schweinsteiger had pushed Randy before Martial
scored. It's a fact- they were two critical decisions.

"Now we take them back to Upton Park and we are confident. We have players
coming back so we can afford to be even more confident."

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Reece Oxford mystery solved
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 13, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Young Hammer, Reece Oxford has solved the mystery of his exclusion from the
FA Cup squad that travelled to Manchester over the weekend.

The 17 year old central defender who can also play in midfield has revealed
he suffered a small injury in training yesterday which ruled him out.

Speaking on his personal twitter account this afternoon Ocford said:

"Unfortunately, I got a small injury in training yesterday, but massive game
for the boys today"

Slaven Bilic was forced to include Winston Reid in his squad who started
against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-final
despite only resuming training on Friday after 5 weeks out with a hamstring
injury.

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Deschamps warms to Payet French recall
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 13, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

French National coach, Didider Deschamps says he remains open minded about a
recall to the France national side for West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet. He
told the French media: 'Dimitri has always been good with his club,' said
Deschamps. 'That was already the case at Marseille. 'For the national team,
he made good entrances, he was good against Denmark, I do not forget that.'
Deschamps added: 'It is not necessarily because there is huge competition
that I will not pick him. And it is not necessarily because of a media
campaign that I will pick him.' Previously, Deschamps told the French media
"Dimitri is a quality player, who performs well for his clubs. He is good in
a certain position and I am here to judge.
For France, the demands are greater. Everyone deserves a shot in life. But I
do not have only lambs, I have players with character."

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