Simeone is publicly attacked by one of his best Atlético de Madrid pupils

The Madrid derby, which took place almost a month ago, continues to make headlines, but not for the 1-1 draw. Instead, the focus has shifted to the incidents that led to a brief stoppage in play due to the aggression directed at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by Atlético Madrid ultras. In a pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, Courtois addressed the ongoing controversy.

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Following the derby, Atlético manager Diego Simeone did not directly mention Courtois but alluded to his celebration and indirectly accused him of provoking the crowd. Simeone stated, "We provoke, we underestimate people, and people get angry. You can celebrate a goal, but not by looking at the stands and making gestures, charging at the crowd. It can't be justified, but people can get angry. People get angry for a reason; we provoke them, and we can do more to calm things down."

Courtois, however, has rejected these accusations. In his response, the Belgian goalkeeper emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and respect. He acknowledged the intense rivalry between the two Madrid clubs but stressed that violence has no place in football. Courtois stated, "I respect Simeone's opinion, but I don't share it. We have a different idea of what provocation is. The important thing is that there can't be violence. Sometimes there's a bit of banter between a player and the fans, and I don't have a problem with that, but then if we score a goal, there might be a small reaction. But those fans who want to cause harm and are violent need to be eliminated."

The ongoing feud between Courtois and Simeone highlights the intense rivalry between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. The incident at the derby has sparked a broader debate about fan behavior and the role of players in inciting crowd reactions. As both teams move forward in their respective seasons, it remains to be seen whether this controversy will continue to dominate the headlines.