Koeman: I don't understand why VAR didn't step in, it was a penalty
The Barça coach was left scratching his head at why Alba didn't earn a spot kick
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman was left baffled as his side failed to come away from Sevilla with a penalty in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg.
Goals from Jules Kounde and Ivan Rakitic sealed a 2-0 win for Sevilla but Barça dominated in between the two striker and Jordi Alba was denied what looked like a clear penalty at 1-0.
Alba was brought down inside the area but referee Mateu Lahoz awarded Barça a free-kick on the edge of the box instead.
"I think in general the referee was OK but of course there is always the doubt over the penalty decision because everyone's told me it's a penalty," Koeman said.
"So I have to believe what everyone's told me because it is not just people from Barça. So I don't know what happened. I don't know why VAR didn't get involved.
"[Sevilla] made a lot of fouls, clever fouls in the midfield that are almost cards. But they defended well. They're a strong team with a big squad."
Koeman felt the result flattered Sevilla and was "too much of a prize for them." In general, he was happy with his side's performance, with Bono making three stunning saves to keep Lionel Messi out.
Samuel Umtiti came out of both goals looking bad, playing Rakitic on for the second goal having been beaten too easily by Kounde for the first. Koeman acknowledged the Frenchman's part in the goals but also defended him.
"We left too much space in midfield for the first goal not just in defence," he added. "For the second goal, we don't usually play offsides ... we ask defenders to keep running, not to play offside because they don't know where full backs are, so it's not a good decision.
"But everyone makes mistakes, it's not fair to go after him. It's part of football. The team was good. We win together and we lose together."
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