Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed frustration over his team’s finishing following a 2-1 loss to struggling West Ham on Sunday. The defeat sees United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table after a controversial stoppage-time penalty by Jarrod Bowen secured all three points for the Hammers.
West Ham took the lead against the run of play in the 74th minute with a goal from Crysencio Summerville. Casemiro managed to equalize for United shortly after, but Bowen’s late penalty proved decisive.
Ten Hag was particularly incensed by the penalty awarded after a VAR review, which followed a clash between Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings in the box. The United manager highlighted the inconsistency in VAR decisions, referencing Bruno Fernandes’s red card that was rescinded after a previous match against Tottenham.
“Before the season, they explained the process of VAR – only when it is clear and obvious should they interfere,” Ten Hag remarked. “What they didn’t do against Spurs was a wrong decision. Now they make a wrong decision here, and both have a big impact on the games. I don’t criticize the personnel; I criticize the process.”
Despite the VAR controversy, Ten Hag acknowledged that his team’s inability to convert chances was a key factor in the loss. Diogo Dalot missed an open goal, and both Alejandro Garnacho and Fernandes squandered significant opportunities during a dominant first-half display.
“We created so many chances and played good football, especially in the first half,” he said. “We had six or seven 100 percent chances that we should have scored. That is a point of improvement. Overall, I don’t have many criticisms of my team, apart from not scoring.”