In the away game at West Ham United, Erik ten Hag and Manchester United conceded their fourth defeat in nine league games. The criticism of the Dutchman is not likely to decrease; he himself was at odds with the referee.
“In football, it’s not always the best team that wins,” said Erik ten Hag after the final whistle on Sky. His team had played a “very good game” at London Stadium, but in the end took nothing home from the capital. “It’s a shame, it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating for us,” explained the 54-year-old, who doesn’t just blame his charges for their poor conversion of chances.
18 shots were fired by the ManUnited professionals on Sunday afternoon, only Casemiros’ header in the final phase found its way into the Hammers’ goal. The fact that Diogo Dalot, for example, shot unchallenged past the orphaned West Ham goal after 32 minutes should serve as a symbol for the performance of the current 14th-placed team in the Premier League.
Red Devils have “taken another step forward”
“Today we created so many chances,” also acknowledges ten Hag, who continues to see himself and the crisis-stricken Red Devils “on the right track”. Even in the 14th competitive game of the season, in which they went ten without a win, his team “took another step forward”.
While the Dutchman, whose contract was surprisingly extended early until 2026 in the summer, still feels “100% confidence” from the club management, this seems to have been lost in relation to the referees. Another reason for this: the alleged foul by Red Devils defender Matthijs de Ligt on Danny Ings, which referee David Coote finally deemed worthy of a penalty after intervention by VAR Michael Oliver and minutes of reviewing the slow-motion images.
Premier League explains penalty decision
“In the end, the VAR intervenes, and I believe it should never intervene there,” says ten Hag. Before the season, it was unequivocally communicated that “if it is not clear and obvious,” the video assistant should not intervene. But it is not only the VAR, but also the referee on the pitch who, in his view, should stick to the original decision in such a case. And if the referee “thinks about it for so long, then it’s clear that there should never be a penalty.”
The Premier League has also commented on the game-changing scene, stating that the video referee had “sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg”. As a result, the “on-field review” was recommended, which consequently led to Jarrod Bowen’s 2-1 winning goal. Ten Hag, meanwhile, remains convinced that club bosses also “see that luck is not on our side now,” even after “three controversial refereeing decisions this season.”
“In the end, the VAR intervenes, and I believe it should never intervene there,” says ten Hag. Before the season, it was clearly communicated that the video assistant should not intervene “if it is not clear and obvious”. But in his view, not only the VAR, but also the referee on the pitch should stick to the original decision in such a case. And if the referee “changes his mind for so long, then it’s clear that there should never be a penalty.”
The Premier League has also commented on the decisive scene, stating that the video referee had “sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg”. As a result, the “on-field review” was recommended, which consequently led to Jarrod Bowen’s 2-1 winning goal. Ten Hag, meanwhile, remains convinced that club bosses “can see that luck is not on our side now,” even after “three controversial refereeing decisions this season.”
The Red Devils face Leicester in the League Cup on Wednesday (8:45 p.m. CET), when they will have to come up with an appropriate response once again. At least ten Hag doesn’t have to worry about the VAR, which is only used in later rounds of the cup competition.
