Ronald Koeman: We started the game with fear it was lost in 30 minutes
The Dutch coach spoke after another loss, this time to Juve in the Champions League
Ronald Koeman spoke in a press conference after his Barcelona side gave up top spot in their Champions League group with a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.
"The defeat comes in the first 30 minutes," he said. "We started badly, with fear, lacking aggression. It seemed we'd gone into the game not to lose rather than to try and control the game. Juve pressed a lot, we didn't have control, defensively we were not good. We improved in the second half a lot. We lost the game in the first half-hour."
Asked if he would be self-critical, Koeman added: "As a coach, I try to prepare the game, prepare the team, how they have to go out. Before the game, we spoke about being compact but to do that you have to win your individual battles. We left a lot of space between the lines... and you can also debate the (Juventus) penalties."
Two of Juve's goals were penalties scored by Cristiano Ronaldo and Koeman was unsure the first one should have been given for a foul by Ronald Araujo.
"The first one is not a penalty, but if that's given on Ronaldo then there is also one on Messi later in the first half," the Dutchman said.
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