Barça's Koeman on Sevilla win, PSG comeback and latest Pique injury
The Dutch coach was delighted after his side reached the final of the cup on Wednesday
Ronald Koeman was beaming after Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday and said he can't ask for any more from his players.
Barça overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit by beating Sevilla 3-0 at Camp Nou after extra-time. Martin Braithwaite scored the winner in the 95th minute after Gerard Pique had levelled the tie with the last head of the game. Ousmane Dembele had earlier opened the scoring against Julen Lopetegui's side, who were reduced to 10 men in second-half stoppage time when Fernando was sent off.
"We kept fighting through the exhaustion, it was incredible," Koeman said. "I am so satisfied with the team tonight. We deserved this win. I think we were better in both games.
"We pressed high. The team is strong physically and mentally. We always believed (in the comeback). We've never chucked in the towel on the Copa. It's a question of mentality. As the coach, I can't ask more from my team than what I've seen tonight."
Asked if it had been his happiest night as Barça coach, he added: "I think so -- and also for the players."
He continued: "The team's growing with the changes we've made, giving chances to really young players. We have improved during the season. The team's good with the ball, we know that, but above all we have improved without it. We're stronger, we run more and we press more. I think we have good things ahead of us."
The comeback against Sevilla will fuel belief of turning things around in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, although Koeman remains realistic.
"It's one thing to come back from 2-0 down but coming back from 4-1 is another," he said. "We will go into the game to win it. Depending on how it goes, we will see. If we can't do it, we have to accept it and continue on our path."
The one slight negative to Wednesday's win was a late injury to Pique.
"We have to wait on Pique," Koeman explained. "We will know more tomorrow. It's not the same (knee) injury. We will see tomorrow.
"He was great today and was one of the team's leaders. He defended really well. He got forward well and it was a great cross (from Griezmann). He scored at a vital moment. The team was phenomenal, though, it's not just one player. The whole team can be proud of themselves."
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