Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says West Ham United’s late penalty award was an “injustice”.
West Ham won a penalty after Matthijs de Ligt was judged to have fouled Max Kilman, with Jarrod Bowen converting from the spot in the 92nd minute to give the London side a 2-1 home win.
The penalty was not initially awarded by David Coote but VAR Michael Oliver recommended the referee review the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
Ten Hag confirmed after the match he spoke to Coote about the decision, which he told BBC Sport was “unfair and unjust”.
“But the decision is made,” he added. “There’s no way back and that’s football.
“That’s a third time I have felt injustice in the 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.”
Manchester United dominated the first half at the London Stadium with Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho among those who missed chances to put the away side in front.
Crysencio Summerville then gave West Ham the lead in the 74th minute, before Casemiro equalised seven minutes later. Manchester United ended the game with 18 shots, five on target and four big chances missed.
“In football, not always the best team is winning,” Ten Hag added. “Today, was clear and obvious. But clear and obvious wasn’t how VAR worked. I’m not criticising any person, I am criticising the process. You have to show big personality to recall this decision.
“Before the season they explained the process and only when it is clear and obvious they should interfere. What they didn’t do against Spurs and interfere with the red card of Bruno, that was a wrong decision and today again. Big impact on the scores.
“I am not criticising any person, I criticise the process and of course, there are people running it.
“The other impact is we didn’t score, we create so many chances, first half is exactly how I want to see my team playing. We are so dominant. I collected six or seven 100 per cent chances we should have scored and when you don’t score and you have to keep calm and keep going, that will create you chances. That is a point of improvement but all over I had not so many criticisms of my team.
“In this moment definitely, the luck is not on our side. It is not about me. Last season was not different but in the end we turned it around. We are so determined it will be the same again. We have to turn it around and we will.”
Manchester United return to action on Wednesday when they host Leicester City in a Carabao Cup last-16 tie. They then host Chelsea in the Premier League next Sunday.
(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
