Atletico Madrid ‘lodge UEFA complaint’ about Arsenal before match | Football | Sport

Atletico Madrid have reportedly lodged an official complaint with UEFA about Arsenal ahead of their Champions League visit to the Emirates. The Gunners are looking to maintain their perfect record in Europe this season, following wins over Athletic Club and Olympiacos, with their biggest test yet as they host Diego Simeone’s side in north London.

As has become tradition, the La Liga outfit trained on the Emirates pitch on Monday in order to get used to the conditions. However, they were left frustrated when their dressing room showers did not have any hot water and players instead had to travel to their team hotel.

Spanish outlet Cadena SER claim that an official complaint has been lodged with UEFA, with the first report of the issue made at 5.30pm, Atletico’s first arrival at the stadium.

Marca say that Atletico were left “furious, surprised and confused” that a modern stadium such as the Emirates lacked basic equipment.

Players, who trained in the rain, ended their session 15 minutes early to discover that the problem had not been fixed and swiftly decided to shower at their hotel instead.

The Athletic report that Arsenal apologised to Atletico and insist that there was a genuine issue at the stadium, which was shortly fixed.

UEFA regulations state that showers with hot water are a requirement of dressing rooms involved in their fixtures, but only to the hosting of competition matches, rather than training sessions.

Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Simeone in the build-up to the match and admitted that the Argentine is someone he looks up to.

“Well, obviously (Simeone) is someone that I look up to and learn from in many situations and what is for me outstanding is his passion,” Arteta said.

“I think for how long he has been in the game and [at] the same club, with the same players, how you still have that handle and that capacity to transmit such an energy and willingness to win.

“It is a very tough environment that we live in, and to keep convincing players you have to be extraordinarily well.

“I do not know him personally but everything that I heard about him is that he is so good at doing that, that is one of the reasons why you are able to sustain at that level.

“I think what he has done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what he has achieved but the way he has done it.

“I think the identity that he has created to the club, to the team, the spirit, I think they are very simple and clear to identify and that is because the manager is very much them.

“That is extremely difficult to achieve for a short period of time and to do it for 14 years, I think he has been there now, he has done something incredible; a pleasure to meet him.”