Atletico Madrid have made an official complaint to UEFA after their training session at the Emirates Stadium on Monday evening was disrupted before their Champions League clash against Arsenal
08:32, 21 Oct 2025
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 18: Coach Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid disappointed during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v CA Osasuna at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on October 18, 2025 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Diego Simeone was left unhappy with Arsenal(Image: Soccrates Images, Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid have lodged an official complaint with UEFA after they were left without hot water following their training session at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, forcing an early return to their hotel.
The Spanish side were put through their paces at Arsenal's north London ground on Monday evening in preparation for Tuesday's Champions League showdown. However, they were 'surprised' and 'angered' to find the changing rooms had no hot water upon arrival.
According to Marca, Atletico alerted UEFA so they could ‘acknowledge the anomalous situation’. It's believed that the club flagged the issue to Arsenal before their training kicked off at 6:45pm.
However, by the time their short training session concluded at 7:15pm, the problem remained unresolved, leaving the players no choice but to head back to their London hotel to wash.
Atletico's management were reportedly baffled as to how such a top-tier stadium like the Emirates could be without hot water. Arsenal admitted the mistake and confirmed that the hot water was back on by 7:25pm, albeit after the Atletico squad had departed.
Atletico Madrid's Spanish defender #24 Robin Le Normand (C) takes part in a training session at the Emirates Stadium in London, on October 20, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Arsenal. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Atletico's players had no hot water following their training session at the Emirates(Image: HENRY NICHOLLS, AFP via Getty Images)
Football London reports that plumbing issues affected both home and away changing rooms.
It marked an unwelcome setback to Atletico's build-up as they seek to improve on their latest English visit. The Spanish outfit suffered a gutting 3-2 defeat at Liverpool just weeks earlier when Virgil van Dijk netted a decisive header deep into injury time. Simeone's men had battled back from a two-goal deficit to draw level in that match.
Arsenal sit among six teams boasting flawless records from their opening two fixtures, while Atletico have collected three points from a potential six.
The Madrid side responded magnificently to their Anfield disappointment by thrashing Frankfurt 5-1 at home.
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Before the clash, Mikel Arteta heaped praise on his counterpart, Simeone, who has managed Atletico for 14 years.
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He remarked: "I think what he's done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what he has achieved but the way he's 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's because the manager is very much them.
"And that's extremely difficult to achieve for a short period of time and to do it for 14 years, I think he's been there now, he's done something incredible so yeah, a pleasure to meet him."