Joao Felix has explained the differences between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid as he enters the third month of his loan at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window but, after the Blues entered the race, he opted for a switch to west London instead of north.
Chelsea are believed to have paid the Spanish giants around £9million for Felix's services until the end of the season. The Portugal international has impressed his teammates with his performances just as much as the Blues supporters.
Speaking to ELEVEN, Felix revealed he was surprised to hear Chelsea fans chanting his name on his debut, given that he was never subject to such a gesture during his time at the Metropolitano Stadium. The Portuguese star struggled to showcase his ability under Diego Simeone, whose infamous defensive tactics restricted his creative 'freedom'.
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"I was at Atletico for 3 years and I didn’t have a chant, here at Chelsea, I had one after one game," Felix said. "They (Blues fans) have a chant for almost every player, it’s funny."
Then, the forward referenced how Graham Potter's free-flowing tactics have been a breath of fresh air. Felix added: "The position I play in and the way we play at Chelsea is different from how we played at Atlético.
"I have much more freedom to put my football into practice, to be at my best. I’m feeling good here, it’s just getting results and then it’s perfect."
Felix has also left a good impression on his new colleagues too. Speaking to the press ahead of Chelsea's clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Cesar Azpilicueta said: "Yeah, he is [a special talent].
""I knew him from when we played against Atletico and then watching the games in La Liga. But I was quite surprised when he arrived because the quality that he has is amazing in training.
"In the last game against West Ham, he showed the way he can turn, create spaces and pass. In training, he’s been unbelievable.
"Honestly, he’s been very good. Scoring a goal will also help [boost] his confidence. He’s already making a huge impact on the team, and I’m looking forward to seeing him every day and perform at this level."
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