Diego Simeone Reportedly Compares Quiet Atletico Fans to Real Madrid Supporters

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone reportedly accused his own fans of being "asleep" and "like Real Madrid's fans" during Tuesday's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga, according to Alberto R. Barbero for Marca.

Turning towards the Atleti fans behind his dugout, Simeone appeared to be upset by the quiet atmosphere in the Vicente Calderon, and his comments were caught on camera.

"Come on guys, are you asleep? What's wrong?" he appeared to say, per Barbero. "There's not long left so cheer the team or else you'll be like Real Madrid's fans. Get rid of the sandwich and shout."

Simeone is one of the more animated managers in world football and regularly attempts to drum up support from the crowd, but his reported decision to reference their rivals Real—presumably a deliberate attempt to trigger a response—was unusual.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Atletico, who were leading 1-0 at the time, are third in La Liga, 10 points behind their rivals and eight points shy of Barcelona.  A quiet nervousness around the Vicente Calderon is to be expected, given that Sevilla are just three points behind Atletico in the race for the final Champions League qualification spot.

Simeone will be hoping his comments spark a reaction in time for the visit of Leicester City on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-finals, which comes just four days after the final Madrid derby of the campaign.

It could be the last-ever European night at their current home, as Atleti are leaving the Calderon at the end of the current campaign:

Simeone's Real comparison will fuel the fire before the two sides meet on Saturday. The league title may already be beyond them, but Atleti will relish the opportunity to prove they are still one of Spain's elite clubs—and one of the loudest.

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