Regretting Barca's Inefficiency Beaten By Granada, Koeman: We Lost Focus In The Second Half

JAKARTA - Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman regretted the inefficiency shown by his team when they were beaten by Granada 1-2 in Week 33 of the Spanish League at Camp Nou, Thursday local time (Friday WIB).

Lionel Messi, who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, failed to maximize his golden opportunity to make it 2-0 before goals from Darwin Machis and Jorge Molina turned things around in the second half.

The defeat was Barca's second in 23 matches. The Blaugrana are now dependent on the results of other teams in the title race for the Spanish League.

"We lost focus in the second half and made a mistake at the back", Koeman told Movistar, quoted by Antara from Reuters after the match.

"We have to accept the fact that we lost, that's the reality. We have a chance to win the game, but that's what it is".

"We have five games left and each team (in the title race) will have a hard time progressing".

"We now need to prepare for Sunday's match (away to Valencia). We are still in the competition and have a chance. We have to accept this, continue, and prepare for the next game". added the Dutchman.

"We tried but were not able to create many chances when they scored. They defended well and we could not create chances".

Koeman's day got worse after he was sent off by referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes after Machis's equalizer in the 63rd minute. Koeman was unable to accompany his team when they visit his former club Valencia on Monday 3 May.

"I don't understand why they kicked me out," said Koeman. "They say that out of respect for the fourth official".

"I want to know what I should say. He (the fourth official) was rude to me. If they put something I haven't said in the referee's report then I have to do something".