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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 😡 In a post-match interview, he fumed, “I can’t believe they gave that penalty! It’s almost like they’re trying to destroy our season! I saw the referee whispering with a West Ham fan before the match! What was that about?” “If you think this is just bad luck, think again! We’re dealing with a conspiracy here!” 💥🤯

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag voiced strong criticism of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following his team’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to West Ham. He specifically questioned the decision-making that led to a late penalty against United, suggesting that VAR officials and on-field referee David Coote lacked the “personality” needed to make the right call. The penalty decision arose after a collision between United’s Matthijs de Ligt and West Ham’s Danny Ings. Although Coote initially allowed play to continue, VAR official Michael Oliver advised him to review the footage, resulting in the penalty, which Jarrod Bowen converted in the 92nd minute, handing United their fourth league defeat this season.

 

The Premier League Match Centre stated that Oliver felt there was sufficient contact on Ings’ leg to justify a penalty review. Ten Hag, however, argued that the ‘referee’s call’ rule, meant to favor the on-field official in close decisions, had been improperly applied. United supporters, already frustrated by recent officiating decisions, were infuriated by Oliver’s involvement, which they felt tipped the game in West Ham’s favor at a critical point.

 

“Football isn’t always fair, and today was one of those days,” Ten Hag expressed, clearly exasperated. “VAR is intended to address clear and obvious errors, but that wasn’t the case here. We’ve been told that VAR should only intervene in obvious situations, yet today it affected the outcome. And this isn’t an isolated incident; it’s becoming a trend. Against Spurs, VAR stayed out on a critical call against us. Now, they step in on a questionable decision.”

 

Ten Hag clarified that his frustration was not personal but directed at the VAR process. He highlighted the extended deliberation, as Coote took nearly three minutes to decide. “In high-stakes moments, courage is needed to make the right decision. There’s a need to improve the VAR process itself, and those overseeing it must be ready to make bold calls when they’re required.”

 

Adding to United’s disappointment were their offensive struggles. Diogo Dalot missed an open goal, and the team hit the crossbar twice, squandering multiple chances in the first half. Substitute Crysencio Summerville put West Ham ahead in the 74th minute, and despite United’s pressure, they couldn’t capitalize. With only eight goals in nine league games and a negative goal difference, United’s finishing issues are becoming a pressing concern for Ten Hag.

 

Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Ten Hag commented, “We displayed some excellent football, especially in the first half, with the type of control and fluidity I expect from this team. We dominated possession, structured our attacks well, and created several openings. I counted six or seven clear chances that should have ended in goals. The finishing wasn’t there, but the quality of football was. When you create that many high-quality chances, you have to stay composed and trust the goals will come.”

 

Despite his frustration with the officiating, Ten Hag remained optimistic about his team’s overall play. “Aside from our finishing, there’s little to criticize about our performance. The main issue is our lack of composure in front of goal. If we remain patient and keep working, the goals will eventually come. We need to stay calm and consistent; that’s the only way to improve.”

 

With increasing pressure on Ten Hag amid United’s rough start, the controversial loss to West Ham only amplifies the scrutiny. For Ten Hag, it’s clear he feels his team has been on the receiving end of questionable calls that have impacted their season at crucial moments. Whether the board and fans continue to support his vision may depend on United’s ability to translate their on-field control into goal

s and points.

 

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