Diego Simeone criticises Real Madrid star over antics during 1-1 derby draw

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday night in a match that was filled with lots of drama and controversies.

The match between the two Madrid club saw some tense moments, especially after Real Madrid took the lead. Following the goal, things spiralled out of control in the stadium, with objects being thrown from the stands toward Thibaut Courtois.

With the fans not ready to back down, the referee paused the game for several minutes to ensure Courtois’ safety. However, the most heated moment of the night occurred during this pause when Simeone had a confrontation with Courtois.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone who also went to the fans to calm things down has now shared his thoughts on the incident.

Speaking after the match, Simeone called out Atletico Madrid fans and also, did not hesitate to point out Courtois’ role in the escalation, highlighting how the actions on the pitch could fuel the crowd’s reactions.

Simeone mentioned that similar events had happened in the past, even recalling a time when Courtois, while playing for Atletico Madrid, was struck by a lighter at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We all have to help. The people who threw those lighters, as also happened at the Bernabeu when Courtois was our player and he received a lighter on his head, are not doing well,” he told DAZN.

“But we, the protagonists, probably don’t help either when we underestimate people, we burden people, we provoke people and people get angry.”

Thibaut Courtois interacts with Diego Simeone, Head Coach of Atletico de Madrid (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Simeone noted that players, being in the spotlight, must maintain composure and act responsibly. He noted that while celebrating a goal is natural, doing so by antagonising the fans, making gestures, or provoking reactions is not the right approach.

“People have no other way of doing it, in a bad way, which is not right, but we also have to see the place of the protagonist that we have, try to remain calm, understand the situations,”

”You can celebrate a goal, but you can’t celebrate it by looking at the stands, pointing at them and making faces at them, because then people get angry.

“It’s not justified, but neither is what started out justified because otherwise, we’re always the victim,” he concluded.