Live from Old Trafford ERIK TEN HAG GOES OFF ON VAR: “THEY WANT US TO LOSE!” 🚨“It’s clear that VAR has a personal vendetta against us! I’ve never seen anything like it!” – Angry Erik ten Hag 😡

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was blunt in his criticism of the Premier League’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system after his team’s narrow 2-1 defeat to West Ham. He questioned the decision-making behind the late penalty awarded to West Ham, suggesting that both the VAR officials and referee David Coote lacked the necessary “personality” to make the correct call. The incident involved a collision between United defender Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham’s Danny Ings. Although Coote initially allowed play to continue, VAR official Michael Oliver intervened, prompting Coote to review the footage, which ultimately resulted in the penalty. Jarrod Bowen converted the penalty in the 92nd minute, marking United’s fourth league defeat this season.

According to the Premier League’s Match Centre, Oliver concluded there was enough contact on Ings’ leg to warrant a penalty review. However, Ten Hag was furious, arguing that the ‘referee’s call’ rule, intended to support on-field decisions in close cases, had been misapplied. United fans, feeling wronged by recent officiating, were frustrated, believing Oliver’s intervention tipped the game in West Ham’s favor at a crucial moment.

“Football isn’t always fair, and today proved that,” Ten Hag said, clearly upset. “VAR should only step in for clear and obvious mistakes, but that wasn’t the situation today. We’ve been told that VAR interference should be reserved for blatant errors. Yet here we are, facing a reversal that cost us the match. This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s becoming a pattern. Against Spurs, VAR didn’t intervene on a critical decision that harmed us, but now it does on a questionable call.”

Ten Hag emphasized that his issue wasn’t with specific referees but with the VAR process itself. He criticized the lengthy review, noting that Coote took three minutes to make a decision. “In high-stakes moments, officials need the courage to uphold the right decision. The VAR process and the individuals managing it need improvement. However, the officials must also have the determination to make bold calls when necessary.”

United’s offensive struggles compounded the disappointment. Diogo Dalot missed an open goal, and the team hit the crossbar twice while squandering several clear chances in the first half. Crysencio Summerville put West Ham ahead in the 74th minute, and despite relentless pressure from United, they couldn’t convert their opportunities. With just eight goals in nine league matches and a negative goal difference, Ten Hag’s finishing issues have become a significant concern.

Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Ten Hag stated, “We played excellent football, particularly in the first half, displaying the dominance and fluidity I expect. We controlled possession, structured our attacks well, and created openings. I counted six or seven clear chances we should have converted. While the finishing wasn’t there, the quality of our play was. When you create that many high-quality chances, you must remain composed and trust that goals will follow.”

Despite his frustration with the officiating, Ten Hag maintained a positive outlook on his team’s overall performance. “Other than our finishing, I have few complaints about how we played. The problem lies in our lack of composure in front of goal. If we stay patient and keep pushing, we will eventually start scoring those chances. Staying calm and consistent is the way forward.”

As pressure mounts on Ten Hag amid United’s difficult start, this contentious loss to West Ham intensifies scrutiny. It’s evident that Ten Hag believes his team has faced questionable calls affecting their season at critical moments. Whether the board and fans continue to support his vision may ultimately depend on United’s ability to convert their dominance into goals and points.