Erik ten Hag

Erik: I feel compassion for my players

Sunday 27 October 2024 17:07

Erik ten Hag felt missed chances and overzealous refereeing were responsible for Manchester United’s defeat at West Ham.

The Reds passed up several good opportunities in the first half at the London Stadium and only found the net through Casemiro after the Hammers had grown into the game and taken the lead thanks to substitute Crysencio Summerville.

We were then stung by Jarrod Bowen’s injury-time penalty, a decision Ten Hag believed should not have been made as the Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Danny Ings was not a clear and obvious foul.

Erik discussed the incident in his post-match interviews with broadcasters, as he reviewed the game following the final whistle...

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WE SHOULD HAVE WON

“Football is not always the best team winning. Today it’s very obvious and clear. Today we were far better than the opponent and there are two things: we didn’t score and it was a very poor decision from the referee – on-field and definitely also off-field.”

NEED TO FIND KILLER INSTINCT

“I think we played very good football, the first hour it was really enjoyable to watch our team – so dynamic, so much variation, so creative, so many chances. That is the only thing we miss – killing in front of the goal. Sometimes you are in this pattern and you have to break the pattern but it will come because our players are clinical and they can be relentless in front of the goal, so it will come.”

VIEWS ON THE PENALTY

“Before the season, we got clear instructions [about] how they run the process and it was that they only interfere, the VAR, when it’s clear and obvious. This was not clear and obvious so the VAR should stay away from this, but then also the on-field referee took three minutes. It’s clear and obvious that, when you have to consider it that long, and when it has such an impact on the game, you should stay away from the penalty.”

NO TIME TO RESPOND

“The referee should take responsibility also. That’s the third time we really feel injustice and that is clear. With the Bruno [incident against Tottenham] they should have interfered. It was overturned, the red card, but what you can’t overturn is the score and the result. We didn’t get the chance to fight back against Spurs, but last week we turned the game and this week, just before [full] time, it has a big impact on our record in the league.”

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MORE CALM REQUIRED

“Of course, we had to make some adjustments [in the second half] although I think we did quite well. When the game is going on, when you don’t score and the players go out of their positions, that is the next step we have to make. You have to keep calm and stay in your positions. You give them opportunities and we allowed them some, that was unnecessary. Keep calm in the game, with our rules and principles, and we go create more chances and win the game.”

SYMPATHY FOR MY SIDE

“I feel really compassionate for my players. They played so well, they fight so hard together, they are so determined to come into those situations and so not to kill them [West Ham, with goals] is very frustrating.”

WE ARE UNITED

“Now we have to show even more character. If so much is going against us, we have to stay together, keep fighting and keep the spirit. When you are winning games, it's a motivation, it is fuel to give teams confidence and a strong belief. Then you can make steps forward and now we go back and we have to deal with this disappointment and this frustration, but we will do. We are strong, the staff is strong, we will keep fighting for Man United and we will go again on Wednesday.”

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