The Atletico Madrid coach was involved in an angry row with fans at Anfield after Virgil van Dijk's last-gasp header snatched a 3-2 win for the Reds in Wednesday's (17.09.25) Champions League opener and admits that his response was not appropriate.

Simeone - who was shown a red card following the incident - said: "Firstly, I regret the part I played. It's clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react, and it is not good when we react."

The Argentine coach did suggest that managers shouldn't have to be subjected to such insults on the touchline.

Simeone said: "We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists or standard-bearers, so in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game.

"It's not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in, and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I'm a person."

Asked about the nature of the insults he faced, the Atletico manager said: "The truth is I cannot remember exactly. I don't want to enter into the situation.

"The thing I have is that I have to maintain my position. I need to know how to withstand everything that happens in front of the dugout, and know I cannot fix society.

"I, and whichever manager, has to live with this because it happens all of the time. My reaction isn't justifiable, but do you know what it is like to be insulted for 90 minutes?

"I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences."