Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was having none of the Real Madrid response to his comments in midweek about refereeing. The Argentine manager claimed that their perspectives are simply down to the team paying their wages.
Last week Simeone noted that ‘episodes that have happened for a 100 years’ occurred during Real Madrid’s controversial win over Celta Vigo, asking why decisions going Los Blancos’ way surprised anyone. Carlo Ancelotti noted that his comments were ‘for the gallery’ or directed at Atletico fans, while Dani Ceballos claimed after Real Madrid’s win that Simeone was still not over their two Champions League final defeats to his bitter rivals.
Simeone was asked about the controversy ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
“I never give my opinion on what my colleagues say. I refer to memory. When you go down memory lane and remember that match against Bayern, those statements (by Ancelotti) were a consequence of what happened on the pitch, not for the gallery. And Ceballos the same: he made the same statement when he was at Betis. They are doing very well, they are a great team… but when they were on a different team, they thought differently…”
Simeone was asked whether it was beneficial to focus on refereeing.
“You are the ones who focus it. One comments, another does too, and you make it a cover story,” he explained to Diario AS.
The Atletico manager is referencing comments from Ceballos on Real Madrid always being favoured while he was at Real Betis, and a similar tone from Ancelotti while he was Bayern Munich manager, saying ‘strange things happen at the Bernabeu’.
A potential future Real Madrid manager, Simeone was full of praise for Xabi Alonso, his opposite number on Tuesday night.
“Yes, sure. He is a reference for how he saw football from the centre of the pitch, which is where it is best seen, and he had great coaches. Absolute congratulations for his work, and we will have to take the game in a direction where we think we can do damage.”
El Cholo also opined on Atletico Madrid finding out their Copa del Rey opponents, Getafe.
“We know them very well. They are growing a lot, we already saw that in the game against Barca. You can see the characteristics of the coach and, in a one-off match, it is always difficult.”
wusabeimyz
26
Madrid is been favored but what I know the only club that gives Madrid headache is Barcelona
सौगातपन्त
17
The Atletico manager Diego Simeone is referencing comments from Ceballos on Real Madrid always being favoured while he was at Real Betis, and a similar tone from Ancelotti while he was Bayern Munich manager, saying ‘strange things happen at the Bernabeu’.
Nataimr
15
If u think Madrid has power to manipulate all referees and league officials and whiles other teams could not do anything up to now , then the rest of the teams all over the world 🌍 are useless . And your team still play in competition that Madrid is involved . ?
Romadekopt
9
Diego Simeone has stated the absolute fact. La Liga refs are paid agents of Real Madrid, hence their bias to favor RM in to keep them abreast in the table
Debate_over10
9
Simeone was right. I’m surprised Ceballos is talking. He suddenly got minutes to play and he thinks he’s relevant now?
Ngoe
9
so many other clubs have the money and resources to emulate the success of Real Madrid, but u can as well go for this players and offer a better deal. that's what Real does to always be the best and people hate them for that