Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman defended his decision to start Lionel Messi in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, after the Argentine was sent off for the first time in his club career during Athletic Bilbao's 3-2 win after extra time.
Messi missed Wednesday's Super Cup semi-final win against Real Sociedad due to injury, but before the final, Koeman said he would allow the player to make the right decision about his fitness.
"I think after so many years at the highest levels, he knows when he can play and when he cannot. I spoke to him and he said he was ready enough to start the match," Koeman told reporters after the loss.
Messi appeared strong at the beginning, and contributed effectively to the goal of progress, but he felt tired with the passage of time and gradually exited the air.
Frustrated with Messi, he reached the height of anger in the last minute of extra time, and attacked Bilbao player Asier Bialebri before the video assistant referee intervened and caused his expulsion directly.
"I understand what Messi did. I don't know how many mistakes were made against him, and it is natural to have a reaction when continuing to try to commit a foul against a player looking to dribble the ball, but I need to see the shot clearly again," Coman said.
And with Messi receiving a red card due to violence, he will likely face a suspension of 4 matches in the Spanish League and the King's Cup.
Barcelona will play with its neighbors Cornia in the 32nd round of the Copa del Rey in the middle of the week, while it is third in the Spanish League, 7 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who have two postponed matches.