Simeone’s most heated press conference after the incidents in the Madrid classic: arrow at Courtois
He A Madrid classic had a sparkling version: he Athletic and Real they drew 1:1 in Civitas Metropolitano, in a duel which He was detained for 20 minutes for the incidents. Eder Militao opened the score of the visit and the celebration of the conquest caused chaos. Then, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Angel Correawith great individual action, he gave definitive figures. But the tension in the microphones continued, as was clear Diego Simeone.
Militao scored the first goal in the 64th minute of the derby, sparking conflicts that forced the match to be abandoned. After the Brazilian’s goal, which came thanks to an assist from Vinicius Junior after a free kick that was quickly played by Luka Modric, the Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois He provoked the local fans with gestures towards the stands. It is worth recalling that Colchonero was defended by a fence before landing in Merengue.
The reaction of the red and white fans was immediate: they started throwing objects onto the field from the southern stands. The atmosphere quickly heated up and players from both teams joined the game. While some Real Madrid players, such as Vinicius Jr., joined the agitation, his teammates Antonio Rüdiger and Luka Modric, along with coach Carlo Ancelotti, withdrew the substitutes to avoid further escalation.
At that moment, both Simeone and the Atlético players headed to the conflict zone. Argentina coach and defender José María Giménez took to the stands to speak directly to some of the fans, who were wearing masks to avoid being identified and avoid possible sanctions. With calm gestures, they tried to tame the situation and prevent a permanent interruption of negotiations.
However, the referee of the match Mateo Busquets Ferrerwho made his debut in the Madrid clásico at the age of 30, decided to send players from both teams to the dressing rooms until the situation was under control. After a pause of several minutes and a warning that any new episode of violence would mean a permanent suspension of the match, the game resumed in an atmosphere of latent tension.
Well, Cholo Simeone played a rough post-match press conference. The point is that when asked about the incidents, he drew attention to the ultras who threw projectiles, but also talked about the behavior of the protagonists, focusing on the goalkeeper, whom he knew how to control.
* Sequence of incidents in Civitas Metropolitano
“We all have to help,” he emphasized. “The people who threw the candles are not okay, but. Even we, the protagonists, do not help when we underestimate, burden and provoke people. Sure, people get angry. We, the protagonists, must also seek peace, understand situations. You can celebrate a goal, but not by looking at the stands, charging at the fans, making gestures like that, because then people get angry,” he pointed directly at the Belgian without mentioning him.
“Of course, it’s not justified, but neither is the initial justification. It is not right, but we are the ones who cause these situations. People don’t get angry themselves, people get angry for something. And we help make people angry. The club will have to make a decision with the people who committed these incidents. We don’t need those people. But be careful, because we can start sanctioning the protagonists who also burden those people. And be careful with what we generate, because I include myself. Sanctions for me to the one who provokes. It doesn’t come anymore. Penalties for the one with the lighter and also for the one carrying the charge. And that balances out. Since there is no penalty, it continues” concluded the 54-year-old coach.
* The main event of the derby