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Arne Slot is poised to be reunited with Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, who angrily confronted the Liverpool manager during a past meeting. Liverpool is preparing to welcome Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as the Reds begin their Champions League journey.
Slot will be eager to surpass last season's European showing, having crashed out at the round of 16 stage to eventual winners PSG via a penalty shootout despite finishing top of the revamped group phase. The Reds will be determined to launch another impressive Champions League run this time out, with Slot already well-acquainted with Atletico boss Simeone.
The duo initially crossed paths during a pre-season clash between Atletico and Feyenoord, shortly after Slot took over at the Dutch outfit in 2021. Following Feyenoord's dramatic 2-1 win in stoppage time, an agitated Simeone pushed Slot, forcing players and backroom staff to intervene, as he wrongly assumed the future Liverpool chief was taunting him.
"At that moment, at the end of the match, I turned to Simeone to tell him how passionate he was even in a friendly match," he explained ahead of Feyenoord's encounter with the same opposition in the Champions League two years ago, as reported by talkSPORT.
"Then, he misinterpreted the smile I had at that moment and pushed me. This says a lot about him, how easily he gets irritated and frustrated. It doesn't matter who he is in front of, he is like that, I don't think he has anything against me."
However, Simeone took exception to Slot's comments. "Slot had the guts to tell me that I was a frustrated character and that I get wound up over all sorts of things," he said. "I would never say stuff like that about a fellow manager."
A late strike from Feyenoord's Naoufal Bannis had decided their pre-season encounter, but Slot's team had no such luck in their Champions League meetings with Atletico, losing both encounters during the 2023/24 season. Meanwhile, Liverpool last faced the Spanish club during the 2021/22 group stage, winning 3-2 on the road and recording a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
Simeone had previously orchestrated victories over Liverpool in 2020, claiming both legs to eliminate Jurgen Klopp's team at the last-16 stage. However, due to his club's mounting injury concerns, the long-serving Atletico faces a tough task to get another memorable result.
Atletico have been missing centre-half Jose Maria Gimenez since the start of the campaign. New signing Alex Baena is set to undergo surgery for acute appendicitis, while Argentina midfielder Thiago Almada sustained an injury on international duty.
When addressing Almada's situation, Simeone explained: "Footballers are athletes; these situations can happen in any national team. He's an important player, who adds to Baena's situation, but we have to live with what happens, and that's why we need a strong squad."
Atlético were handed a fresh injury concern at the weekend, with Julián Álvarez being withdrawn at half-time during the side's victory over Villarreal. David Hancko and Robin Le Normand were also taken off with suspected knocks.
Liverpool enters their opening Champions League fixture in a buoyant mood following four consecutive Premier League victories, but it has been a rather inconsistent start for Atlético. Simeone's men suffered defeat to Espanyol and were held by Elche and Alavés before securing a 2-0 triumph against Villarreal on Saturday.
After their opening three league results, Simeone said he understood the supporters' unease about his squad. "I don't expect anything; when you expect in life, you despair," he admitted. "We need to work so that people identify with the team.
"As for the affection the fans have shown me, I've been grateful since I arrived in '94, and I'm the one who has to keep giving the people what they expect from our team."
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