To be completely honest, the last thing I want to talk about in this column is the situation surrounding Dimitri Payet. I said what I needed to say in my press conference yesterday, although I do understand that many West Ham fans will be reading this today and will feel as disappointed as I do that it has come to this. They will want to know why this has happened.

Now, though, I owe it to my players, to concentrate on them, to prepare them for what is a massive game against Crystal Palace. I have many times heard the mantra that “the team is bigger than any individual”. A saying such as this, although often true, means little in theory, but in this case it couldn’t be more accurate.

I would only add this. This situation with Dimitri has been developing for a little while now. Two days ago, he and I had a meeting. I won’t disclose what was said, but I was left in no doubt as to his intentions.

Yesterday, just before the normal pre-match press conference, I asked Dimitri one more time: “Are you standing by what you said a couple of days ago or have you thought more about it?” He replied that he was standing by his decision, so that was that. The right thing to do then was to tell the supporters and the players what was happening and I informed the squad later that morning, before we began training.

It has left me sad, angry, but at the moment Dimitri has said he will not play for the club, so I have no alternative but to plan for Saturday’s match without him. He will not train with the rest of the squad and the club’s position remains consistent, which is that he is not for sale.

It would be much, much better if this had not happened and that he had remained committed to West Ham, but that is not the case, so life goes on.

Many times over the years, clubs have lost quality players but gained a team. There is no point in saying we won’t miss Dimitri Payet because the fans know — we know — that he is a great player. What I mean, though, is, for example, when a team has a player sent off, somehow that often gives the rest of the players more energy, they dig deeper.

I am not so much hoping as expecting this reaction from my team against Crystal Palace tomorrow.

West Ham in training on 12 January 2017 10 show all West Ham in training on 12 January 2017 1/10 Slaven Bilic talks to Winston Reid Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 2/10 Pedro Obiang (3rd L) warms up during a training session at Rush Green Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 3/10 Andy Carroll and James Collins Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 4/10 Mark Noble and Winston Reid Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 5/10 Adrian Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 6/10 Angelo Ogbonna and Andy Carroll Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 7/10 Reece Oxford Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 8/10 Sam Byram Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 9/10 Darren Randolph Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 10/10 Havard Nordtveit Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 1/10 Slaven Bilic talks to Winston Reid Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 2/10 Pedro Obiang (3rd L) warms up during a training session at Rush Green Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 3/10 Andy Carroll and James Collins Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 4/10 Mark Noble and Winston Reid Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 5/10 Adrian Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 6/10 Angelo Ogbonna and Andy Carroll Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 7/10 Reece Oxford Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 8/10 Sam Byram Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 9/10 Darren Randolph Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images 10/10 Havard Nordtveit Avril Husband/West Ham United via Getty Images

I have seen that reaction before this season and it shows me they have character. They showed it after we lost 5-1 to Arsenal and I expect them to show it again following a similar defeat by Manchester City. The most disappointing aspect of that game for me was the way we reacted after they scored their first goal from the penalty spot.

Yes, we missed a great opportunity to equalise soon after, but when that didn’t happen we began to chase them all over the pitch. You can’t do that, especially against a top team like Manchester City.

Particularly in the Premier League, you have to continue to play the same way, whether you are one goal up or one goal down.

The classic example of what happens if you don’t do that was Brazil vs Germany in the 2014 World Cup.

Brazil, after they conceded the first goal, lost it completely. They wanted to score two goals in one attack, they went all over the pitch and Germany just picked them off. Result? Brazil lost 7-1.

When your opponents have the ball, you have to respect that. You can be further up the pitch, yes, but you must not lose your discipline.

The best moments of Dimitri Payet's debut West Ham season 13 show all The best moments of Dimitri Payet's debut West Ham season 1/13 Payet's best moments In a season of highs, what have been Dimitri Payet's greatest moments in his first season as a West Ham player? 2016 Getty Images 2/13 Arsenal vs West Ham, August 9 Payet’s goals have grabbed the headlines but his eight assists have been equally important this season. The Frenchman started in the best possible way teeing up Cheikhou Kouyate to head home with a sublime 40-yard free-kick against Arsenal. According to Kouyate, Payet told him before the game: “I will give you the ball and you will score.” 3/13 Bournemouth vs West Ham, January 12 Despite going a goal down to the Cherries, West Ham rallied to leave the south coast with all three points. Typically it was Payet who lit the touch paper with a stunning free-kick which dinked in off the underside of the crossbar to draw West Ham level. 4/13 New deal, February 11 In February, the 29-year-old signed a new contract that will keep him in east London till 2021. The bumper deal came just eight months after he joined the Hammers and ended speculation linking the Frenchman with a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League. 5/13 Blackburn vs West Ham, February 21 Fresh from signing a new deal with the club, West Ham’s standout performer of the season celebrated with a trademark free-kick. As usual, distance could not prevent Payet from giving his team a 2-1 victory and progression to the next round of the FA Cup. 6/13 West Ham vs Tottenham, March 2 Spurs were riding high in the league when they faced West Ham at Upton Park, but the Hammers put a huge dent in their London rivals’ league ambitions by winning 1-0. Payet set up West Ham’s winner, his near post corner finding Michail Antonio whose powerful header could only be palmed into the goal by Hugo Loris. 7/13 London Player of the Year, March 3 Payet pipped Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Chelsea's Willian, Watford forward Odion Ighalo and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil to be named the best player in London in his maiden season in the capital. 8/13 West Ham vs Everton, March 5 Payet's 12 goals have powered West Ham's season and earned the team vital points. In a 3-2 thriller at Goodison park, it was Payet of course who rose to the occasion and swung the tie in West Ham’s favour. The Hammers were trailing 2-0 until Michail Antonio struck after 78 minutes. Three minutes later Diafra Sakho drew Slaven Bilic's men level before Payet latched on to a clever backheel from Sakho to fire between the legs of Joel Robles in injury time. 9/13 Manchester United vs West Ham, March 13 Against United in the quarter final of the FA Cup, Payet drew first blood driving an emphatic long-range free-kick into the left of David de Gea’s goal. United drew level later to take the tie to a replay. 10/13 France vs Russia, March 29 Payet had been out of the French squad for some time but his performances for West Ham earned him a recall against Russia. It was a chance he took in style by slamming home yet another free-kick from an impossible distance. 11/13 West Ham vs Crystal Palace, April 2 Palace boss Alan Pardew had warned his team not to give away free-kicks near the box, but Payet still found a way to hit one home. As his shot flew over the wall, Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney heard a team-mate say 'see ya' expecting the ball to end up in the crowd. Instead it dipped wildly to land in the top corner with keeper Wayne Hennessey wrong-footed. 12/13 Player of the Year Shortlist, April 13 Payet was among six players included on the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year - and little over a week later was named in the union's team of year. The French playmaker, who missed out on the top prize to Riyad Mahrez of Leicester, was the first West Ham player to make the top flight's team of the season since Trevor Brooking in 1978. 13/13 West Ham end of season awards, May 5 Payet picks up five individual prizes including Hammer of the year, goal of the season, players' player of the year, signing of the season and top goalscorer. Not a bad haul. 1/13 Payet's best moments In a season of highs, what have been Dimitri Payet's greatest moments in his first season as a West Ham player? 2016 Getty Images 2/13 Arsenal vs West Ham, August 9 Payet’s goals have grabbed the headlines but his eight assists have been equally important this season. The Frenchman started in the best possible way teeing up Cheikhou Kouyate to head home with a sublime 40-yard free-kick against Arsenal. According to Kouyate, Payet told him before the game: “I will give you the ball and you will score.” 3/13 Bournemouth vs West Ham, January 12 Despite going a goal down to the Cherries, West Ham rallied to leave the south coast with all three points. Typically it was Payet who lit the touch paper with a stunning free-kick which dinked in off the underside of the crossbar to draw West Ham level. 4/13 New deal, February 11 In February, the 29-year-old signed a new contract that will keep him in east London till 2021. The bumper deal came just eight months after he joined the Hammers and ended speculation linking the Frenchman with a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League. 5/13 Blackburn vs West Ham, February 21 Fresh from signing a new deal with the club, West Ham’s standout performer of the season celebrated with a trademark free-kick. As usual, distance could not prevent Payet from giving his team a 2-1 victory and progression to the next round of the FA Cup. 6/13 West Ham vs Tottenham, March 2 Spurs were riding high in the league when they faced West Ham at Upton Park, but the Hammers put a huge dent in their London rivals’ league ambitions by winning 1-0. Payet set up West Ham’s winner, his near post corner finding Michail Antonio whose powerful header could only be palmed into the goal by Hugo Loris. 7/13 London Player of the Year, March 3 Payet pipped Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Chelsea's Willian, Watford forward Odion Ighalo and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil to be named the best player in London in his maiden season in the capital. 8/13 West Ham vs Everton, March 5 Payet's 12 goals have powered West Ham's season and earned the team vital points. In a 3-2 thriller at Goodison park, it was Payet of course who rose to the occasion and swung the tie in West Ham’s favour. The Hammers were trailing 2-0 until Michail Antonio struck after 78 minutes. Three minutes later Diafra Sakho drew Slaven Bilic's men level before Payet latched on to a clever backheel from Sakho to fire between the legs of Joel Robles in injury time. 9/13 Manchester United vs West Ham, March 13 Against United in the quarter final of the FA Cup, Payet drew first blood driving an emphatic long-range free-kick into the left of David de Gea’s goal. United drew level later to take the tie to a replay. 10/13 France vs Russia, March 29 Payet had been out of the French squad for some time but his performances for West Ham earned him a recall against Russia. It was a chance he took in style by slamming home yet another free-kick from an impossible distance. 11/13 West Ham vs Crystal Palace, April 2 Palace boss Alan Pardew had warned his team not to give away free-kicks near the box, but Payet still found a way to hit one home. As his shot flew over the wall, Crystal Palace’s Damien Delaney heard a team-mate say 'see ya' expecting the ball to end up in the crowd. Instead it dipped wildly to land in the top corner with keeper Wayne Hennessey wrong-footed. 12/13 Player of the Year Shortlist, April 13 Payet was among six players included on the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year - and little over a week later was named in the union's team of year. The French playmaker, who missed out on the top prize to Riyad Mahrez of Leicester, was the first West Ham player to make the top flight's team of the season since Trevor Brooking in 1978. 13/13 West Ham end of season awards, May 5 Payet picks up five individual prizes including Hammer of the year, goal of the season, players' player of the year, signing of the season and top goalscorer. Not a bad haul.

Do that and you are risking everything, especially against a team like City, because they have quality players and they will not make mistakes if they are given enough time and space.

We are not despondent, though... we are far from that. Apart from that match we had been doing well. We have to move on from that defeat, yet learn the lessons. I do not want to lose the way we are playing because of one game because even in other recent defeats, such as against Manchester United and Leicester, we have deserved to take something from those games.

Yes, tomorrow is a massive game, but many other clubs will feel their games are of similar importance. There are many teams who are in similar positions to ourselves.

London Football! You can follow this weekend's matches between Chelsea and Leicester City, and Crystal Palace vs West Ham live on Standard Sport.