Erik ten Hag offers update on his Man Utd future after damaging West Ham defeat
Erik ten Hag is under fresh pressure after Manchester United fell to a dismal defeat at struggling West Ham, with the Dutchman blaming referee David Coote for the loss
by Andy Dunn · The MirrorErik ten Hag described the decision that inflicted another dismal defeat on his Manchester United side as an “injustice” - and insisted he is not feeling the pressure.
The Dutchman and his team were furious after Michael Oliver, the VAR, told David Coote to go to the monitor after Matthijs de Ligt’s late collision with Danny Ings.
And after Jarrod Bowen scored West Ham ’s winner from the penalty spot, Ten Hag said: “Before the season there was the instruction about VAR only interfering in clear and obvious mistakes. That is definitely not a clear and obvious mistake from the on field referee.
“That's the third time I have felt injustice this season and it has a big impact on our team and on our scores and where we are in the table. It's not right. In this moment luck is not on our side.
"It is not about me. It was unfair and unjust the way we conceded the penalty. Last season was not different but in the end we turned it around and we are determined to do the same. We have to turn it around and we will."
But with the pressure on Ten Hag showing no signs of easing, he knows his players have to start being more clinical after they wasted a whole host of first half chances at the London Stadium.
Ten Hag added: “We have to score, we created so many chances. We should've been two or three up. We have to look in the mirror and see that we don't score in a good game from our side. The only thing I can criticise the players for is missing chances.”
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Crysencio Summerville gave West Ham a second half lead before Casemiro headed an equaliser but Bowen’s winner was a major boost for manager Julen Lopetegui. While Ten Hag was furious, the Hammers boss insisted David Coote had made the right decision.
He said: “I know they were better but we changed things for the second half and we deserved to win the second half. We were better than them. I didn't see it [the penalty]. The players say it's a penalty and the referee says it is a penalty so I am sure they are right.
"But I haven't seen it. I prefer to highlight that after they scored we keep the energy and positive momentum to win the match. I prefer to keep that energy. We had a bad result last week but that can happen and today we've won against a big team.
"To win any match is a big challenge it's difficult you have to go to the limits. We have to keep the energy to compete and be better. Happy for the three points. We are happy for the fans and players, they deserve this victory after suffering a lot in the first half.
"Second half we changed different things and the first half was for them but the second was for us. We were able to compete better and win the match. Fortunately we won. We keep positive when they scored and the commitment we appreciate the support from the fans."
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