Diego Simeone has revealed that a fan's insults sparked his confrontation after Liverpool's 92nd-minute winner against Atlético Madrid. The Atlético head coach was sent off by the referee following Virgil van Dijk's goal that secured a 3-2 victory for Liverpool at Anfield.
Simeone claimed he was subjected to constant abuse throughout the match and his emotions boiled over when a fan turned and insulted him after the goal. '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.'
The Argentine did not specify whether the comments were racist, stating: '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.'
Liverpool's win marked their fifth late victory in as many games this season, providing a perfect birthday present for manager Arne Slot, who turned 47. '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. '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 weeks that they are able to push one more time.'
Slot joked about requesting UEFA to schedule his birthday away from Champions League nights, as this was the second year in a row he celebrated with a win. 'I would like to ask Uefa if next year I can celebrate my birthday with my friends and family,' he added.
