Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet has heaped praise on teammate Giannelli Imbula for his part in helping him climb to the top of the Ligue 1 assists table.
Payet leads the way for setting up goals this season, but the playmaker has suggested that his job would be a lot more difficult without the help of industrious ball-winner Imbula.
"A lot of my assists have come because Gian had broken through a line before," said Payet, according to the official Ligue 1 website.
"He is the first blade, I'm the second. His transmission, in taking out three players, gives me the time to then think about mine, gives me time to consider my options. The coach sees that, but not always the fans, who just look at the assist and the goal.
"Even the journalists, if they see it, they don't give it enough praise, and that makes me uncomfortable. Gian is underestimated given the importance he has to our game. When he's having an off-day, I have one too, we depend on each other."
Payet's Marseille side currently occupy third spot in the Ligue 1 standings.
Christopher Dodd
