Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot might be reunited with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone within the Champions League, with the 2 coaches having clashed up to now
Arne Slot is poised to return face-to-face as soon as once more with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, who beforehand shoved the Liverpool supervisor throughout a heated confrontation. The Reds are gearing as much as welcome Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to kick-off their Champions League journey.
Slot might be keen to construct on final season’s European journey, having crashed out on the spherical of 16 stage to eventual winners PSG on penalties regardless of ending high of the revamped group section. The Reds might be wish to make one other spectacular begin within the Champions League this time round, with Slot already well-acquainted with Atletico boss Simeone.
The duo first crossed paths throughout a pre-season conflict between Atletico and Feyenoord, shortly after Slot took cost on the Dutch outfit in 2021. Following Feyenoord’s dramatic 2-1 triumph in stoppage time, an irate Simeone pushed Slot, forcing gamers and backroom employees to intervene, as he wrongly believed the longer term Liverpool supervisor was taunting him.
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“At that second, on the finish of the match, I turned to Simeone to inform him how passionate he was even in a pleasant match,” he defined forward of Feyenoord taking over the identical rivals within the Champions League two years in the past, as reported by talkSPORT.
“Then, he misinterpreted the smile I had at that second and pushed me. This says loads about him, how simply he will get irritated and pissed off. It would not matter who he’s in entrance of, he’s like that, I do not assume he has something towards me.”
Nevertheless, Simeone subsequently took concern with Slot’s feedback. “Slot had the center to inform me that I used to be a pissed off character and that I get wound up over all types of issues,” he mentioned. “I might by no means say stuff like that a couple of fellow supervisor.”
Whereas a late strike from Feyenoord’s Naoufal Bannis had determined their pre-season encounter, Slot’s crew loved no such luck of their later conferences with Atletico, struggling defeats in each Champions League conferences throughout the 2023/24 season. In the meantime, Liverpool final confronted the Spanish outfit throughout the 2021/22 group stage, securing a 3-2 away triumph and a 2-0 success at Anfield.
Simeone had beforehand orchestrated triumphs over Liverpool in 2020, claiming each legs to remove Jurgen Klopp’s crew on the final 16 stage. However, given his membership’s rising damage considerations, he faces a troublesome process to ship one other assertion victory.
Atletico have been with out centre-half Jose Maria Gimenez to this point this marketing campaign. Liverpool Echo additionally reviews that Alex Baena is scheduled to have surgical procedure for acute appendicitis and Argentina midfielder Thiago Almada sustained an damage whereas on worldwide obligation.
When addressing Almada’s setback, Simeone mentioned: “Footballers are athletes; these conditions can occur in any nationwide crew. He is an necessary participant, who provides to Baena’s scenario, however we’ve to stay with what occurs, and that is why we want a powerful squad.”
Atletico have been hit with a recent damage scare, as Julian Alvarez was taken off at half-time throughout their victory over Villarreal. David Hancko and Robin Le Normand additionally left the pitch attributable to suspected accidents.
Liverpool are heading into their first Champions League match on a excessive, following 4 consecutive Premier League victories. In the meantime, it has been a rocky begin for Atletico, with Simeone’s squad struggling a loss to Espanyol and drawing matches with Elche and Alaves earlier than securing a 2-0 win towards Villarreal on Saturday.
Earlier than the membership’s victory on the weekend, Simeone admitted he understood the followers’ anxiousness about his crew. “I do not count on something; while you count on in life, you despair,” he mentioned. “We have to work so that individuals determine with the crew.
“As for the love the followers have proven me, I have been grateful since I arrived in ’94, and I am the one who has to maintain giving the individuals what they count on from our crew.”
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