Aaron Wan-Bissaka in match action with Jamie Redknapp inset.
(Credit: Imago/Sky Sports)
Rahul Lakhani
Sat 23 August 2025 9:10, UK
West Ham were abysmal as they were thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea at the London Stadium on Friday.
Graham Potter is now under immense pressure amid calls for the manager to be sacked, but the West Ham players also did themselves no favours with some pathetic individual displays.
Despite lining up with a back five, the Hammers were defensively all over the place, and right wing-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was one of West Ham’s worst players.
West Ham were so poor, in fact, that former Liverpool and Tottenham star Jamie Redknapp lost his temper when watching them play, and he singled out Wan-Bissaka for some powerful criticism.
West Ham manager Graham Potter anxiously watches on from the dugout
Potter is under huge pressure (Credit: Imago)
Jamie Redknapp slams Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s defending
West Ham were trailing 2-1 at half-time after taking the lead, and Redknapp slammed Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo’s woeful defending for the second Chelsea goal.
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After rewatching the clips of Pedro Neto’s goal again during the half-time analysis, Redknapp completely lost his cool when highlighting Wan-Bissaka’s play, and he was perhaps even angrier than Potter himself.
“Wan-Bissaka’s here at the back post, just watch his defending here, number 29. Then he manages to get back in with Neto, then he’s in a good position,” Redknapp explained on Sky Sports.
Stat Wan-Bissaka
Appearances 40
Goals 2
Assists 5
Wan-Bissaka’s West Ham stats
This was the moment when the former midfielder lost his temper, and his voice became particularly high-pitched with exasperation.
“He just sleeps. Why don’t you watch him when he’s coming behind you? Did you not think he would make a run into the box? It’s such poor play from his perspective.”
Redknapp was so angry with Wan-Bissaka that he sought to defend the under-fire manager, pointing out the difficult task he has ahead of him.
“Graham Potter’s going to get a load of stick, people going ‘oh it’s the way we’re playing. When your players are defending like that, you have absolutely no chance,” Redknapp added.
Do West Ham need another right-back?
West Ham find themselves in a sorry state of affairs, as several players in their line-up need replacing. There are bigger priorities than a new right-back, with Wan-Bissaka voted Hammer of the Year last season.
Potter’s system means that Wan-Bissaka should have extra defensive support in theory, but clearly, this was to no avail.
Wan-Bissaka is renowned for his one-on-one defending, but his tendency to switch off like he did against Neto will cost West Ham, and with Kyle Walker-Peters joining this summer, he could be a good option to replace him.
West Ham do not have long left in the transfer window, but they need to strengthen their midfield before even considering another full-back or wing-back, and this will mean that Potter may have to persist with the underperforming Wan-Bissaka for now.
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