Last night, Atlético and Real Madrid faced each other in the famous Madrid derby (1-1). Always a special meeting for Thibaut Courtois, who wore the colors of the Colchoneros between 2011 and 2014. But since the summer of 2018, the Belgian international has joined rival club, Real Madrid. A choice that Atléti fans have never forgiven him. The plaque in his name near the Civitas Metropolitano is regularly damaged. And that was the case again after last night’s match. A meeting which was interrupted around ten minutes after projectiles were thrown towards Courtois, after the Merengues’ goal. Incidents which caused the Spanish press to react but also the main players in the meeting, who were very annoyed after these incidents.
This was the case for Diego Simeone. “We all have to help. People who throw these lighters, as happened at the Bernabéu when Courtois was our player and received a lighter to the head, it’s not good. But we, the protagonists, probably don’t help either when we underestimate people, overwhelm them, provoke them, and make them angry. People have no other way to do it, in the wrong way, which is not fair, but we also have to try to calm down, to understand the situations in which we can celebrate the goal, not in looking at the stands, calling them out, making a gesture like that… because people are getting angry. Of course this is not justified, but neither is the original justification, because otherwise we are still a victim.”
Simeone believes that Courtois the provocateur must be punished
Then, the Argentinian indicated that the troublemakers must be punished. “Regarding the people who committed these incidents, the club will have to make a decision. We don’t need these people in the stands, we need supporters who support us, accompany us, think about the club… As protagonists, we must act so that they don’t do it. It happens because people react for something. This cannot be justified, but we can also punish those who provoke people. Let’s be careful with what we generate, and that includes me. For me, we must punish those who provoke. We punish the one who throws the lighter and they also punish those who provoke.”
The Belgian is clearly targeted by his former coach, who therefore believes that he provoked Atlético fans. “It happened to him at the Bernabéu when a lighter hit his head while he was still playing for Atlético Madrid. This shouldn’t happen. Clubs need to make sure this doesn’t happen, but watch out for us becoming victims. For what ? Because if we charge, there can be a reaction, and we cannot provoke, whether it is Simeone, Courtois, Vinicius, Messi or Griezmann. Thibaut Courtois, who was injured last night, is unlikely to appreciate El Cholo’s statements. His response is likely to be spicy, knowing the character.
