Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has insisted that he didn’t see in real time the incident which saw his side awarded a penalty in their 3-1 LaLiga Santander win over Valencia, but he trusts the referee got the decision right as VAR did not intervene.
Valencia‘s players weren’t happy with the decision, but replays seemed to indicate that Jesus Gil Manzano made the correct call, that Jose Gaya did indeed foul Ansu Fati.
“I saw [the penalty incident] after the game,” Koeman said afterwards.
“You can have doubts, but the referee blew and VAR didn’t intervene, so it’s a penalty.”
Aside from the win and racking up three vital points, the big news for Barcelona was arguably the return of Ansu Fati to the starting line-up and the young attacker performed excellently and Koeman is glad to have him available.
“We have a plan for his return,” the coach said.
“Little by little he’ll improve physically and he’ll be important, as he showed today.
“It’s important to have him, as we’ve missed players like him and Kun [Aguero], players who can give us competition and quality up top.
“[Ansu and Memphis Depay] are complementary, they have shown they have a great connection. The team was focused and then we played well.”
The Dutchman also had words of praise for Philippe Coutinho, who many had written off before the season but who is gradually showing he can be a useful player for this Barcelona side.
“[Coutinho] was good, quick, and we had more control with one more in the midfield,” Koeman said.
“From day one I have believed in Coutinho.
“He will continue to regain his quality because physically he is better every day.”
Sunday’s game was the first chance for Barcelona to fill the Camp Nou, with Catalan authorities finally granting permission for stadiums to be at 100 percent capacity, however the Blaugrana faithful didn’t take full advantage. Yet, Koeman was nonetheless grateful to those who did come.
“I don’t know why [the stadium wasn’t full], but you have to highlight the attitude of those who came,” he stated.
“I hope on Wednesday there will be more. We have to win the fans over with our attitude.
“Those who came were phenomenal, they helped us come back.”
