“He lacked the confidence and personality to make the correct judgement. He was easily intimidated by West Ham players and he gave the penalty” – Erik ten Hag criticized the referee following Manchester United’s loss to West Ham, claiming that the official lacked the “big personality” needed to handle a crucial moment. His frustration stemmed from a controversial penalty decision that played a significant role in the defeat.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticized referee David Coote for lacking the decisiveness to resist awarding West Ham a questionable penalty in their 2-1 loss at the London Stadium.

After Crysencio Summerville’s goal for West Ham was quickly matched by Casemiro’s equalizer, controversy struck late in the game.

Danny Ings and Matthijs de Ligt’s collision prompted VAR official Michael Oliver to call for a review, leading Coote to overturn his initial decision and grant the Hammers a penalty, which Jarrod Bowen converted.

Ten Hag, in his BBC interview, called the decision an “injustice” and expressed frustration over the inconsistency in VAR usage.

He pointed out that VAR should only intervene for “clear and obvious” errors, contrasting the situation with a previous incident involving Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Spurs.

The Dutchman clarified that his criticism targeted the process rather than individuals, emphasizing the need for a “big personality” to maintain the original call.

In his post-match remarks, Ten Hag lamented United’s lack of clinical finishing despite their dominant play, particularly in the first half.

He noted the team’s wastefulness in front of goal, citing six or seven clear-cut chances that should have been converted.

Despite the loss, he praised the overall performance, urging his players to remain composed and focused on creating opportunities.

Looking forward, Ten Hag expressed sympathy for his players’ efforts and shifted focus to the upcoming Carabao Cup clash with Leicester City on Wednesday.