Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has expressed regret over an incident involving a Liverpool fan following Virgil van Dijk’s late winning goal in last night’s Champions League match at Anfield. The Reds secured a dramatic 3-2 victory with Van Dijk scoring a stoppage-time header from a corner.
The goal led to a confrontation between Simeone and a Liverpool supporter. The Argentine revealed that he had been subjected to insults throughout the entire match.
While Simeone acknowledged that managers must tolerate such behavior, he emphasized that he is still human and it affects him.
Calling on Liverpool to take action against the fan, Simeone told BBC Sport he hopes the club addresses the matter seriously.
“We, as managers, are public figures. Just as we fight against racism and abuse in stadiums, we should also stand up against the insults aimed at managers during matches,” he said.
“It’s not easy being in our position and enduring constant insults. After the third goal, I looked over and the abuse continued. I’m only human.”
He added, “My reaction wasn’t justified, but imagine being insulted for a full 90 minutes. I hope Liverpool improves this situation and that the fan responsible faces consequences.”
Regarding Liverpool’s performance, the team has had a somewhat unusual start to the season, securing wins with last-minute goals but showing signs of vulnerability. They needed late goals to defeat Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Burnley, and have been conceding more than expected.
Last night was no different—they took an early 2-0 lead but couldn’t maintain it as Atletico fought back to level the score. Luckily, Van Dijk’s late header clinched the win, but questions remain about how long coach Arne Slot’s team can keep relying on late comebacks.
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