The Liverpool fan who infuriated Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has taken credit for Arne Slot’s side’s dramatic victory over the Spaniards after revealing his identity.
The feisty Simeone was given a red card following Virgil van Dijk’s late winner in his side’s Champions League defeat at Anfield, having been embroiled in a furious fracas with Liverpool fans behind the dugout.
Stewards and members of the crowd jostled with the Argentine as he sought to confront a home supporter, revealing in the aftermath that he reached breaking point having been ‘insulted all of the game’.
And in the early hours of Thursday morning, a Liverpool fan by the name of Jonny 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.
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
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.
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.
‘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.’
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.’
