Simeone About The Quarrel At Anfield: I'm Against Back

JAKARTA - Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone claims he fought back insults from supporters before he was rewarded with a red card in his team's 2-3 defeat in the Champions League opener against Liverpool at Anfield.

Simeone was sent off during injury time after Virgil van Dijk scored a winning goal for the hosts in front of The Kop.

The Atletico Madrid manager appeared to be involved in an argument with Liverpool fans on the sidelines before the stewards tried to control the situation. Then Simeone was sent off by referee Maurizio Mariani.

Simeone said he responded to provocations from the audience. This sparked a fight on the sidelines with the stewards and members of the Atletico Madrid coaching team involved in the commotion.

TV footage shows Simeone dealing with a supporter in the crowd and the stewards approaching to calm the situation.

"Let's talk about what refers to me. We are in a position where we have no right to retaliate or react, right? Our reaction as managers is never good, right?"

"We are the people on stage and must behave well. However, if there are comments against racism or insults, we can also be angry and fight back."

"The managers, from our current position, to how we were insulted throughout the game. When they scored the third goal, he turned around and insulted me. When I turned around, I was human."

"I will not discuss in detail the nature of the insult. I don't want to get involved with that. I don't want that discussion".

"I have to stick to my stance. I know what's going on behind the manager's bench. I can't solve people's problems at a press conference."

"I have to accept it because it is always everywhere," Simeone said in response to the situation in a press conference after the match.

There were angry scenes at the end of the match at Anfield after Atletico Madrid bounced back from 0-2 and conceded in the second minute of extra time resulting in defeat.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he didn't know what had happened.