Diego Simeone admitted his reaction was not "justifiable" after being red carded in Liverpool's thrilling 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Thursday (AEST).
But the fiery Atletico manager said he was simply fed up after being "insulted" all game by Liverpool fans at Anfield.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk headed home a last-gasp goal in stoppage time to lead Arne Slot's men to victory in the opening game of their European campaign.
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The game appeared headed for a draw after Marcos Llorente scored twice to pull the Spaniards back into the game – before Van Dijk's header from a corner in the 92nd minute.
Simeone was sent off moments later after having to be pulled away from the crowd.
"They insult you all game long behind the bench, and you can't respond because you're the manager," he told reporters.
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"My reaction to the insult isn't justifiable, but it's not easy to endure being insulted for 90 minutes. Hopefully, Liverpool can improve, and when they find the person who did it, there will be consequences…
"Insults all game long. And gestures too. I'm the one who has to stay calm, and I have to put up with the gestures, the insults, any situation. Why?
"Because I'm in a position where I have to put up with it."
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Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah also scored and set up another on an entertaining evening that also saw the Reds debut of British record signing Alexander Isak.
Liverpool stormed out of the gate with two goals before the game was six minutes old.
Andy Robertson struck in the fourth minute in his first start of the season when Salah's free-kick ricocheted off him and over the line past goalkeeper Jan Oblak who was rooted to the spot.
Salah bagged a goal of his own two minutes later when he muscled through three Atletico defenders after a quick one-two with Ryan Gravenberch, then slotted into the far corner from an angle.
But the visitors grew into the game and Llorente clawed one back with his first goal of the night on the stroke of half time before equalising in the 81st minute with a sumptuous volley that took a deflection on its way in.
It felt like a recurring nightmare at Anfield as Llorente played the hero in 2020 against Liverpool as well, scoring twice as Atletico knocked them out of the Champions League last 16.
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But this time Liverpool salvaged the victory with more late-game heroics in what is starting to feel like a habit.
All four of their Premier League victories this season have required a winner in the last 10 minutes.
"We kept pushing," Van Dijk said.
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"We found a way again. I'm glad I got the winner. You have to keep going and show the resilience we have been showing for many years.
"It was another great European night here. We have shown many times that we are capable of doing it, and today I am the lucky one with the winner."
Robertson said Liverpool need to get back to winning "simpler."
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"It's a great thing to keep going right to the end, but when you are 2-0 up and playing so well it should have been a more comfortable night," he said.
Isak, who signed on deadline day for $256 million from Newcastle United, started and played 58 minutes, firing wide of the net with his first shot late in the first half, then launching his second effort about a minute later straight at Oblak.
Liverpool had 20 shots to the visitors' 10 and their numerous near-misses, including a virtual sitter that Salah rang off the post, had the Anfield crowd on the edge of their seats.
Slot's team are looking to build on last season's strong league-phase performance before they lost to eventual winners Paris St Germain in the last 16.
Meanwhile, forward Harry Kane scored once in either half to guide German champions Bayern Munich to a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in their Champions League opener.
The England striker scored Bayern's second goal with a 27th minute penalty after an own goal by Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah had put the hosts in the lead in the 20th.
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Chelsea briefly rallied, with Cole Palmer pulling one back just two minutes later, but Kane, who has already scored five goals in three Bundesliga matches so far, struck again with a clinical low finish in the 63rd to settle the hosts' nerves.
Bayern started their Champions League season with a win for the 22nd consecutive time and continued their unbeaten run across all competitions while Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time this season.
"Amazing result, top performance against a really good side," Kane said.
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"We went 2-0 up and it was disappointing to concede straight after the second goal.
"We stayed calm and did very well in the second half. We made it difficult for them to press. Then they got tired and the spaces started opening up. It was a tough, physical game.
"We're delighted with the result."
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