Barça head coach, Ronald Koeman has reacted to Lionel Messi’s sending-off in the Blaugrana’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Athletic Club on Sunday.
Ronald Koeman empathised with Lionel Messi’s frustration after the Argentine was sent off in the Blaugrana’s Spanish Super Cup final loss to Athletic Club.
Messi saw red for the first time in his illustrious club career as embattled LaLiga giants Barça were upstaged 3-2 by Athletic after extra time in Seville on Sunday.
I can understand what Messi did,” Koeman said afterward. “I don’t know how many times they fouled him, and it’s normal to react when they keep trying to foul you as a player who is looking to dribble with the ball, but I need to see it again properly.”
Messi, who was fouled eight times against Athletic, recovered from a minor injury to return to Barcelona’s line-up in his 753rd appearance for the Catalan club.
“Leo, after so many years in the elite of football, knows perfectly if he is fit or not,” Koeman said. “We spoke before, he said he was fit to play the game, he has given his maximum and nothing else.”
