Ronald Koeman insists Barcelona did not deserve Copa del Rey defeat to Sevilla

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman believes his side's 2-0 defeat to Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg was not a fair reflection of the game.

La Blaugrana enjoyed a lot of possession and created a handful of good chances, but they were unable to find a way past Sevilla goalkeeper Bono and were eventually undone by goals from Jules Kounde and former Barça man Ivan Rakitic.

Koeman felt his side deserved more from the game and admitted afterwards that he felt Barcelona should have been awarded a penalty in the 70th minute, when the score was still 1-0, which could have changed the game.

“It is a harsh punishment," Koeman said (via AS). "We deserved a better result, we had opportunities, we played well, we fought and the result we got was very bad. It did not reflect what was seen on the pitch.

“The team always fights. Today we play well against a very physical team. There was a penalty in our favour that was not called. If the VAR is there, you have to call a penalty.

“[The referee's performance] was good, but there is always the question of the penalty play. Everybody tells me what it is. I don't know why the VAR has not entered. They have made quite a few mistakes really."

The result now leaves Barcelona needing to overturn a two-goal deficit in the return leg - something they managed to do in the 2018/19 quarter-final against Sevilla - and Koeman was adamant that his team are capable of doing so at Camp Nou.

"We have to analyse all our games," he explained. "There are many games before the next leg, the team are tired.

"You have to try to play and win in the second leg. There is hope, although the tie is obviously difficult, but this time is capable of anything at home."

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