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Southampton boss Claude Puel unfazed by threat of Dimitri Payet
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Southampton boss Claude Puel says he is not fazed by the threat of West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet, insisting he has some stars of his own.
Frenchman Puel admits his compatriot is a “very good player” but has told his own squad not to get distracted by the free-kick specialist.
Saints head to the London Stadium on Sunday after Payet curled in a 25-yard free-kick deep into injury time to break Accrington Stanley’s hearts in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
Accrington boss John Coleman hailed Payet as being as lethal from set-pieces OUTSIDE the box as he would be from the penalty spot after his side’s 1-0 defeat.
And West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has compared him to former England and Manchester United star David Beckham .
However, Puel believes on his players concentrating on themselves in a bid to pick up what would be a fourth consecutive win in all competitions.
He said: "It (a free-kick from Payet) would be a good opportunity for them and of course defending is important, but we must also concentrate on all the many good things we do on the pitch.
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"He is a very good player on the free-kicks, but our players also have many qualities and it will be difficult for West Ham to defend these players.
“It is important to keep in our minds all of the good things we can make on the pitch and not just to stay in close (attention) with the opponent, (but) to give a good answer against all of the (West Ham) team, with a good concentration.”
A first Premier League win under Puel’s reign came against Swansea was followed with victory over Sparta Prague in their opening Europa League tie.
Then Southampton secured their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Three consecutive away matches offer a stiffer test though, with their trip to the capital followed by a Europa League group game in Israel against Hapoel Be’er Sheva and then at defending Premier League champions Leicester.
He went on: "We can see the good work on the training sessions and in every game, we are strong in defence and also with good possibilities on the counter-attack, playing good football, even with different players out on the pitch.
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"All of the squad can take confidence from this, to show that it is possible to play these many games every three days, which is what we challenged the squad to do at the start (of the season).
“All is positive, but now it is important to continue the work, to see if we have the ability to travel, when we have three games away.”
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“Our pressing and defending was excellent.”
Martin Hunter on 
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