The Liverpool fan who infuriated Diego Simeone has labelled the Atletico Madrid boss a ‘coward’ in a feisty response to the manager’s post-match comments after their Anfield confrontation.
Reds supporter Jonny Poulter identified himself as the man who caused Simeone’s meltdown on Wednesday night following Virgil van Dijk’s late winner in their Champions League clash.
Poulter, who was sat behind the Atletico Madrid dugout, was confronted by a furious Simeone in the aftermath of the Dutchman’s header, resulting in him being red carded late on.
The seething Argentine claimed that he was ‘insulted all night’ by rival supporters, while referring to racism in his post-match press conference.
Simeone said after the game: ‘Let’s talk about what refers to me. We are in a place where we don’t have a right to reply or react, do we? It’s never very good when we react as managers, is it? We are the people on the stage out there and need to behave well.
‘But if there are comments against racism or insults, we can get angry and fight back as well. Managers, from the place that we are, get insulted all of the game.
The Liverpool fan who enraged Diego Simeone has shared his version of events
‘When they scored the third goal, he turned around and insulted me, when I turned around, I am a person and I’m human.
‘I’m not going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don’t want to get involved with that, I don’t want that discussion. I have got to stay in my place.
‘I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. I can’t solve society’s problems in one press conference. I’ve got to live with it.’
When asked to expand on his mention of racism, Simeone walked out of the press conference.
Now, Poulter has hit out at Simeone, before giving his own version of events.
‘Something I want to get off my chest here, with regards to what happened last night with Mr Simeone and I think he’s a bit of a coward,’ he said in a video posted on X.
‘When he went in and done his press conference after the game, the Spanish media asked him what was said, if it was racist, if it was regarding the Falklands War or all this rubbish.
‘There was nothing racist said by me or anyone else, there was never a mention of the Falklands War by me or anyone else, but the fact that he was asked it and didn’t answer the question and he just got up and walked out has left it open for speculation to the world.
The Liverpool fan who sent Diego Simeone into meltdown has seemingly identified himself
Jonny Poulter took to X to reveal he had sent Diego Simeone into a rage on Wednesday night
‘I’ve had messages on every platform I don’t know how many of people asking what did you say? I didn’t say anything apart from “waheeyyy f*** off we won” basically, as you do.
‘But that’s what he done to us. When they scored the equaliser his assistant manager was giving it in front of us and obviously he was being called a s***house and whatever else. And yeah, his assistant manager who came over and spat at me, yeah…’
Stewards and members of the crowd jostled with the Argentine as he sought to confront the home supporter, revealing in the aftermath that he reached breaking point having been ‘insulted all of the game’.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Poulter took to X to reveal he was the man who drew the ire of Simeone.
‘Do i get the assist?’ he jokingly asked his 1,700 followers.
An ardent Red, Poulter’s profile picture shows him standing alongside Liverpool boss Arne Slot while holding a ‘Slot’s appenin’ lad?’ poster.
Simeone made a beeline for the fan and revealed he had been hit with ‘insults all night’
Following the Liverpool fan’s altercation with Simeone, various new clips have emerged on social media offering an insight into the pair’s confrontation.
A post from X account @Trulli__UB shows Poulter aiming X-rated hand gestures and shouting ‘f*** off’ towards the Atletico Madrid bench after they drew level at 2-2.
Another video, shot from behind Poulter in the Anfield Road Stand, showed Simeone attempting to confront the Liverpool fan following van Dijk’s winner.
On commentary for TNT Sports, Darren Fletcher watched with amazement as Simeone departed down the tunnel.
‘Simeone’s in the crowd!’ the commentator informed the viewers – and co-pundit Ally McCoist. ‘He’s absolutely lost the plot. I don’t know what’s been said to him.’
Fletcher added: ‘I think he feels like he’s been wronged in some way, by the people on that side – all we do know is that he’s been sent off.’
When asked why he had responded in that way, Simeone told Movistar Futbol: ‘They’ve been talking about putting on a good show, but they insult you from behind the team the whole game, and you can’t say anything because I’m the coach.
‘My reaction to the insult isn’t justifiable.
‘And of course, with the opponent scoring just in time, you turn around and they keep insulting you, and with the tension, what happens is what happens.’