Atletico Madrid are set to face Arsenal in the Champions League and Diego Simeone has struggled to learn from his past mistake against the Gunners when the two clubs met in 2018
Diego Simeone has struggled to deliver on the promise he made about his touchline behaviour when Atletico Madrid faced Arsenal in 2018. The Spanish side are set to face the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Atletico boss Simeone’s only other previous meetings with Arsenal came during their Europa League semi-final clashes over seven years ago, which resulted in the Argentine coach being sent off in the first leg. He was dismissed from the dugout after just 12 minutes following his repeated protestations over Sime Vrsaljko’s early red card.
Despite being without their manager, Atletico won 1-0 in the second leg to reach the Europa League final 2-1 on aggregate and went on to lift the trophy against Marseille. Simeone was unable to be pitchside for the final after receiving a four-game ban and admitted his desire to better control his temper on the sideline.
“I don’t feel good about [my] sending off, although I understand that these things can happen given the speed at which you experience everything that happens on the pitch,” Simeone told reporters.
“I know I have to improve in this aspect. Anything I can say now cannot serve as a justification.”
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However, he demonstrated his fiery temper once again during Atletico’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Liverpool last month. Simeone’s side found themselves 2-0 down after just six minutes at Anfield but looked to have rescued a point through Marcos Llorente’s impressive brace.
A last-gasp winner from Virgil van Dijk sparked jubilant celebrations from the home crowd. In the aftermath, Simeone was shown a red card after getting into a heated argument with a Liverpool supporter behind the dugout, with the manager later explaining what had led to the incident.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Arsenal have won both of their opening Champions League cames against Atheltic Club and Olympiacos but will be aware of the threat that Atletico will pose. During Simeone’s tenure, the Spanish side have reached two Champions League finals and twice won the Europa Legaue. The club responded to their dramatic Liverpool defeat with a 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last month.
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