Diego Simeone gives his side of the story after ugly fan row that seen him get a straight red card towards the end.
Diego Simeone blames fan row after Liverpool winner on ‘getting insulted all game’.
Diego Simeone claimed that when he addressed a supporter following Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the 92nd minute, he had a “human” reaction.
After Virgil van Dijk’s goal, the Atletico head coach, who was ejected by the referee, said he was subjected to continuous criticism during the game.
After Marcos Llorente’s double tied the score after his team had fallen behind to goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, Simeone would have wanted to leave Anfield with a draw, but the Liverpool captain made sure it was not to be.
“We are in a place where we don’t have a right to reply or react and it is never good when we react as managers,” Simeone said. “But if there are comments against us, racism or insults, we can get angry or fight back so when we are getting insulted all the game, when they scored the third goal, he turned round and insulted me. I am a person, I am human.”
“I am not going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don’t want to get involved in that discussion. I have got to stay in my place. I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. I can’t solve society’s problems in one press conference. I have to live with it.”
Slot on Liverpool’s performance
Liverpool needed a late goal to win for the sixth time in as many games this season, making it the perfect occasion to celebrate Arne Slot’s 47th birthday.
“You’re never 100% sure, but what I do know is that we are so fit that we are able to push one more time,” Slot said.
“What I can assure you, even if we don’t score, we will try to push for it. That is the mentality this team has, but it should not only be about mentality, it’s also how fit we are, how well prepared we are throughout the last few weeksthat they are able to push one more time.
“It’s the second year in a row that I had to celebrate my birthday on a Champions League night and the second time in a row that the players gave me a nice present, because we won them both, but I would like to ask Uefa if next year I can celebrate my birthday with my friends and family.”