Atletico Madrid’s coach, Diego Pablo Simeone, addressed the media on the eve of their second match in the group stage of the new Champions League, where the red-and-white team will face Benfica away from home.
The press conference primarily focused on the events that transpired during the recent derby against Real Madrid, which saw a significant stoppage in play due to aggressive actions involving lighters thrown by a radical sector of Atlético Madrid’s supporters towards Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian had celebrated Madrid’s goal in front of the ultras, an incident that occurred prior to the aggression. Initial insults were also directed at the white goalkeeper.
Following the derby, which ended in a draw after Ángel Correa’s last-minute goal for the red-and-whites, Simeone expressed his outright rejection of the ultras but also invited reflection on the “trigger” of the situation.
“I have a total and absolute rejection of the aggressors, but I also invite reflection on the player who provokes,” Simeone stated during the press conference on Tuesday, reaffirming, “I am not going to change anything I said.” He continued, “I have my feelings and my thoughts, and I have my opinion. Many times I express it, and many times I keep it to myself. The other day I did not hold back.”
“I reject violence, and I reject the aggressors. The club has a significant opportunity to demonstrate externally what needs to be done. That was my statement post-match. After that, my opinion was misinterpreted,” the Atlético coach added.
“The club is working on this and already has one individual implicated, and surely will find the others, and they need to be removed immediately, because we do not need that kind of people,” Simeone emphasized.
He also expressed openness to facing sanctions if he is the one who “provokes situations.” “If it ever happens to me, then sanctions should also be applied to anyone who provokes from their position as protagonist,” he stated.
