Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman says Lionel Messi chose to play for their Supercopa de Espana final defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Messi saw red in the 120th minute of the 3-2 defeat.

"It's better if I don't talk," Koeman said when the referee was brought up afterwards.

"It'd just be repeating things and I don't like doing that. I'm not going to give my opinion.

"I understand what [Messi] did [at the red card].

"I don't know how many fouls they committed against him. He tries to dribble and can't.

"Do I forgive him? I need to see the incident."

Before the match, there was plenty of speculation over whether Messi would be fit to play given that he missed the semi final with injury.

"After so many years, he knows when he can play and when he can't," Koeman said as he defended Messi's selection in the starting line-up.

"He decided to play and that's it."