The sight of Aaron Wan-Bissaka flailing during West Ham’s 5-1 thrashing by Chelsea left the Manchester United fans tuning in to watch a Friday night filetting with a nasty sense of deja vu.
Wan-Bissaka has always been a ‘great one-v-one defender’, to quote Old Trafford icon Rio Ferdinand.
Many a left-winger has found himself victim to one of those trademark slide challenges, caught up in ‘The Spider’s’ web. One of the few West Ham United players to perform with anything approaching consistency last season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was named the club’s Hammer of the Year in May while that £15 million fee rendered him one of the best value-for-money signings in recent history.
But, as the Manchester United faithful will tell you, Wan-Bissaka has always possessed an Achilles heel. His very own ‘glass jaw’.
And, as Chelsea ran riot in a 5-1 London Stadium crushing, that old weakness was exposed not once, not twice but three times during a traumatic first-half collapse.
Jamie Redknapp hits out at Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Chelsea thrash West Ham United
Wan-Bissaka appeared to have Joao Pedro in his grasp when a Chelsea corner was flicked on by Marc Cucurella, just nine minutes after Lucas Paqueta had given West Ham the lead with a stunning long-range effort.
That was, however, until ‘AWB’ let the Brazilian slip through his fingers at the worst possible moment, Pedro heading in the equaliser from point-blank range.
Worse was still to come, much to the bemusement of Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports commentary duty.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post, just watch his defending!,” squawked an exasperated Redknapp, watching West Ham’s number 29 dawdle as Pedro Neto darted in behind him. “He’s in a good position and he just sleeps.
“Where are you going? Why don’t you watch who is coming behind you? Do you think [Neto] is not going to make a run into the box? It’s such poor play from him.”
Manchester United fans see familiar failings in Wan-Bissaka
Predictably, Wan-Bissaka was in no-man’s land once again as Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea in control. From 1-0 up to 3-1 down inside 19 minutes.
And while many Manchester United supporters spent much of last season wondering why Wan-Bissaka had been allowed to leave, especially for just £15 million, this was a brutal reminder of a glaring weakness which continues to haunt the experienced right-back.
“Wan-Bissaka sleeping at the back post for two goals, imagine my shock,” one Red Devil wrote on X, a comment dripping in sarcasm.
“Wan-Bissaka not defending his back post. Shock. [People say] United have sold their best defender. Don’t let media agendas fool you, kids. A really good lad, very likeable, [but] nothing like a top all-round defender. The correct decision to sell.”
“Wan-Bissaka sleeping at the back post for Chelsea’s second goal. How many times have we seen that from him at United?
“Wan-Bissaka sleeping at the back post. A tale as old as time.”
“Wan-Bissaka always falls asleep at the back post!”
“I see Wan-Bissaka still sleeps in defence”
“At fault for both goals. Reminiscing of all that back-post slumber we witnessed at Old Trafford.”
“Wan-Bissaka falling asleep at the back post for all three goals. Some things never change.”
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