Cresswell - Payet is the best in the world

Aaron Cresswell has no doubts Dimitri Payet is the best free-kick taker in the world

Aaron Cresswell had the best view inside the Boleyn Ground when Dimitri Payet lined up his free-kick against Crystal Palace on Saturday and has no doubts he is the best in the world.


Cresswell was standing next to the French star when the Hammers were awarded a free-kick just before half-time.


After scoring a spectacular set-piece just a few days earlier for France, Payet followed that up with another wonder strike as he curled the ball into the opposite corner and the roof of the net.


Cresswell feels Payet is the best free-kick specialist in the world at the moment and hopes he can continue his amazing form and help the Hammers push for a European spot come the end of the season.


Cresswell said: “I will put Dimi up there as the best free-kick taker in the world at the moment. I was standing right behind him and the ball looked destined for the top corner.


“Nobes came over to him and gave him a little heads-up, but he has put it in the top corner once again and hopefully he can keep doing that for us.


“I will gladly sit behind him and keep watching him strike balls like that.


“I am not sure he will want to watch his first free-kick back but he has now scored five or six in the top corner and as everyone saw in world football the other day, he scored another one for France which was a ridiculous one and he has now put one in the opposite corner.


“As a keeper you can only applaud someone like that and long may it continue if he can keep scoring goals like that.”


Cresswell was disappointed to only come away with a point against Palace and felt the outcome would have been a lot different had Cheikhou Kouyate not received a red card in the second half following his challenge on Dwight Gayle.


Cresswell added: “It is disappointing in the end considering the circumstances. I think we were excellent in the first half and then during the second half the sending off has changed the whole game.


“If that had not happened I think we would have gone on to win the game.


“It is one of those things which has happened and we have got to get it out of our system and go again.


“I have seen the replay on the television and there is no malice in it and he has not gone over the top of the ball.


“He slid in and kicked the ball. It might be a foul but it is not a yellow card and certainly not a red card.”


The point leaves the Hammers in fifth position and just three points behind Manchester City in fourth place.


With another London derby against Arsenal next weekend at the Boleyn Ground, Cresswell says the race for a European spot is still wide open as the Club prepare for the final seven league games of the season.


“We have still got it all to play for. It is another point on the board and considering the circumstances we are disappointed with it, but there is nothing we can do and the whole game changed from that.


“We have now got another big London derby against Arsenal next weekend and we need to get ready for that. We will be 100 per cent at it and it is one we are looking forward to.”