Diego Simeone publicly acknowledged the mistake made during the Supercopa semi-final of Espanha and apologized to The episode occurred on January 8, at Jeddah, at Arábia Saudita, when Real Madrid eliminated Atlético from Madrid by 2 to 1. The Argentine coach stated that it was not correct to put himself in that position and accepted that he did not act in the best way.
The statement was made this Monday, January 12, during a press conference at Madri, on the eve of the game against Deportivo La Coruña in the round of 16 of Copa of Rei. Simeone opened the interview with the words of retraction and reinforced that the winning team deserved the classification, leaving no room for questioning about the result.
🚨 Diego Simeone: “I’d like to apologize to Mr.
—Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra)January 12, 2026
It was not right, and that’s why I’m apologizing.”pic.twitter.com/XWZIlKamzz
Complete statement from the Argentine coach
Simeone began the press conference by directly apologizing to those involved. Ele stated that he should not have put himself in that situation and openly acknowledged the mistake. The coach also highlighted the good moment of Barcelona, Real Madrid’s opponent in the Supercopa final, praising the Catalan team’s consistency and clear game idea.
Moment of tension during the match
The discussion gained prominence in the second half, when Vinicius Júnior was substituted. Simeone made gestures and exchanged words with the Brazilian striker, which resulted in yellow cards for both. Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s coach, quickly intervened to separate the two and then criticized the conduct, stating that there are clear limits to behavior on the field.
The game was intense from the first minutes. Federico Valverde opened the scoring with a great free kick after two minutes. Rodrygo extended in the final stage, while Alexander Sørloth discounted to Atlético. Apesar from the mattress pressure, Real Madrid controlled the result and guaranteed a place in the decision.
Immediate reactions after the confrontation
Simeone’s attitude generated criticism in the Spanish and international press. Vinicius Júnior reacted on social media, highlighting the elimination of Atlético in yet another knockout competition. Television images recorded the most heated moments, expanding the repercussion of the case throughout European football.
Preparation for the duel for Copa of Rei
Simeone took advantage of the press conference to talk about his next appointment. Atlético faces Deportivo La Coruña this Tuesday, January 13th, at 9pm (local time), at the Riazor stadium. The coach classified the opponent as brave and capable of complicating the game even playing at home.
The technician updated the physical condition of José María Giménez and Marc Pubill. Ambos perform specific work to return to their best level. Simeone reinforced that Copa of Rei represents an important opportunity for the club this season.
Focus maintained on the Atlético project
Despite the elimination in Supercopa, the coach maintains his constant work speech. Ele highlighted the responsibility of raising Atlético to the highest possible level. The team remains focused on recovering points in LaLiga and seeking titles in the remaining competitions.
