Diego Simeone Attributes Confrontation with Supporter on Being Abused All Game’
Atletico Madrid’s coach described his response as natural after he confronted a supporter following Liverpool netted a last-gasp winner to defeat his team by a single goal.
The head coach, who was dismissed by the official, claimed he had been subjected to non-stop abuse during the match and his emotions reached a peak once Virgil van Dijk found the net.
“We are in a place where we lack the option to reply or react,” Simeone commented. “But if there are comments against us, discriminatory language or offensive words, we can get angry or fight back. Therefore, if someone insults us all the game, when they scored, he faced me and verbally attacked me. I am a person, it’s a natural reaction.”
Simeone avoided detailing whether the comments were racist, stating: “I won’t discuss the specific content of the insults. I don’t want to get involved into that discussion. I must stay in my role. I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. It’s not my job to fix society’s problems in one press conference. I must live with it.”
It is the fifth occasion in the current campaign that Liverpool have secured a win with a late strike, offering a ideal gesture to mark head coach Arne Slot’s 47th birthday.
“It’s impossible to be completely certain,” the Liverpool boss admitted, “however, I’m confident that we are extremely prepared that we can push one more time. What I can assure you, whether we fail to find the net, we will try to keep going. It’s the mentality this team has.”
He added, “It isn’t only be about mentality, but also how prepared we are, how well prepared we are throughout the last few weeks that they are able to push one more time.”
Slot also joked about marking his special day on a Champions League fixture for the second consecutive season, adding that he hoped to spend the following occasion with friends and family.
