Joe Cole hits out at 'criminal' West Ham defending in Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

Ex-Hammers midfielder scathing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Edson Alvarez

Joe Cole has laid into West Ham’s players for their ‘criminal’ defending in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the first 18 minutes for the Blues, with Cole Palmer adding a third in the second half.

And former England international Cole - who came through the ranks at West Ham before joining Chelsea - had some choice words for the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Edson Alvarez.

“It's fantastic from Jackson. The first ten minutes of the derby, three players not concentrating, that's criminal. Wan-Bissaka, you have to retreat. Alvarez that's exactly where you don't want to be as a midfield player, chasing after someone that's quicker than you.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined West Ham from Manchester United this summer

Getty Images

“From Chelsea's perspective it's an excellent finish from Jackson. So often particularly in the first 20 minutes, West Ham's pressing was all over the place. Wan-Bissaka's pushing into midfield. West Ham are in a foot race and they've lost it.”

West Ham are without a win from their last three games and the pressure is starting to mount on new boss Julen Lopetegui.

“Of course today is a bad day for all of us and we have to look forward and work hard and think about the future,” he said.

“We are very, very frustrated. It was a very soft way to lose. We suffered two early goals, we can and have to do better. We had more chances and more of the ball but that is not important.

“We can defend much better. When you suffer the first goal it makes the rest of the match more difficult and then after the second goal it is the same.

“This group of players are going to improve. They are to have time to give the fans the best of themselves. They deserve this. We feel their support, their ambition.”