Dimitri Payet has blasted Slaven Bilic's defensive approach as a major factor behind his choiceto leave West Ham, and admits that the final nail in the coffin arose when the post was his side's man-of-the-match in their win over Hull in December.
The French international controversially forced a way out of east London in January, which left a sour taste to Hammers fans and the board when boss Slaven Bilic revealed Payet refused to play for the club again.
Dimitri Payet: "The West Ham fans hated me as much as they had loved me." - he tells his side of the story https://t.co/EbDX8sM2gt pic.twitter.com/ZoV1awxaEU
After sealing a controversial £25m return to Marseille, the current West Ham player of the year has no regrets over his acrimonious departure, having already netted in three goals in eight appearances for Les Olympiens.
And Payet opened up his frustration at the other end of the pitch.
He said, according toFrench Newspaper L'Equipe (via the DailyMail):"Our way of approaching matches, the defensive system put in place did not please me.
"You can say that it bothered me, yes. I got through games without any pleasure.
"I had had contact with Marseille and most notably with Rudi Garcia, who had a philosophy that I knew well. The choice was quick. If I waited six months I would lose six months."
The 29-year-old also reveals that he was left irritated by his teammates reaction to West Ham's lucky home win over Hull in a relegation scrap back in December and feared he was going backwards if he remained at the London Stadium.
"With West Ham at home against Hull, we won 1-0 and they hit the post four times. In the changing room everyone was happy, but the man of the match that day was the post.
"I thought that I would not have room for improvement. On the contrary, I risked regressing. I need another challenge."