Simeone addresses touchline drama after Atletico fall to Real Madrid – ‘I have a bad memory’ | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone faced the media after his side were knocked out of the Spanish Super Cup, following a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid. 

While the result confirmed Real Madrid’s progression to the final, much of the post-match press conference centred on the heated incidents involving Simeone, Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso.

The derby had already been intense on the pitch, but events on the touchline and during Vinicius’ substitution ensured that tensions spilt over beyond the final whistle. 

Simeone responds to the altercation

As expected, Simeone was asked to address his exchanges with the Brazilian forward.

When questioned directly about what happened with Vinicius during the match, the Atletico coach chose not to add fuel to the fire. 

“I have nothing to say. What happens on the field, ever since we were kids, stays there. Nothing more to say.” 

Simeone was then pressed on a specific comment that had been widely discussed and replayed since the match. 

When asked whether he had told Vinicius that Florentino Perez would fire him, the Argentine offered an ambiguous reply, stating, 

“I don’t remember. I have a bad memory.” 

Simone had an altercation with Vinicius Jr. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Another moment from the match involved Dani Carvajal approaching Simeone during the heated exchanges. Asked about that conversation, the Atletico manager explained, 

“I have a lot of respect for Carvajal and all the Madrid players. I told him what can be seen from the outside and what is happening to all of them.”

Analysing the match

Shifting the focus back to the football, Simeone was also asked to reflect on the defeat itself. 

“They started the game with a great goal, a tremendous shot from Valverde. We were at a disadvantage, but we played the game we wanted to play, the game we wanted to play.”

The Atletico coach went on to analyse where the match slipped away for his side, highlighting missed opportunities and strong goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois. 

“In some cases, we didn’t have the cutting edge that we normally have, and in others, Courtois made some great saves, especially the one from Sorloth’s header.”

Despite the disappointment, Simeone refused to criticise his players and instead closed the conference with a message of continuity.

“I can’t say anything to my team: we congratulate our opponents and we’ll continue working in this vein.”

Source: AS