Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone endured a dramatic evening as his side were beaten 3-2 at Anfield in the Champions League, with the Argentine also getting sent off towards the end
Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone had a dramatic evening at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)
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Diego Simeone told Arne Slot that Atletico Madrid could have earned a draw in their dramatic defeat to Liverpool. The Spanish side fell to a 3-2 defeat at Anfield on Wednesday evening in their Champions League meeting.
Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah had seemingly put Liverpool on their way to a comfortable win with early strikes, only for Marcos Llorente to level matters with two second-half goals.
Virgil van Dijk eventually got Liverpool over the line with his stoppage-time strike. And speaking after the game, Atletico boss Simeone told Slot that his side could have snatched a draw with even more late dramatics.
Speaking to Spanish TV after the game, he said: “The team reacted to a 2-0 deficit on a tough pitch, especially the first goal that bounced back and ended up becoming a goal, boosting the opponent's morale. We reacted to that dangerously tough 2-0 deficit, got into the game, fought hard, got the equaliser.
“I was saying to Slot it could have been 3-3 with Sorloth's shot at the end, and that's the way to go. In the Champions League, we're going to face opponents of this calibre, who are very good, and we showed that we're ready to compete.”
Simeone was at the heart of a bizarre incident after Van Dijk’s winning goal as he was sent off after an exchange with a Liverpool fan. And the Argentine has since explained why he was dismissed.
He added: "They always talk about taking care of each other, but they insult you throughout the entire match and you can't say anything because you're the manager. My reaction was unjustifiable, but do you know what it's like to be insulted for 90 minutes, to turn around after the opponent scores and still be insulted? It's not that easy.
Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone was sent off late on at Anfield
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"[The referee told me] he understood me. I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.
"There were insults throughout the match, including gestures. It's clear that I'm the one who has to stay calm, I have to put up with the insults, the gestures and any situation. Because I'm in a position where I have to put up with it.
"I'm not really going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don't want to get involved in that. I have got to stay in my place, I know what went on behind the manager's bench.
"I can't solve society's problem in one press conference. I have to live with it as it exists all over the place all of the time."
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