-
Joao Felix reveals the situation that will determine Chelsea’s long-term future.
On his long-term future at Chelsea, Joao Felix has given an essential update.
When Atletico Madrid placed the forward on the market earlier this season, numerous Premier League teams, including Arsenal and Manchester United, expressed interest in him.
However, Chelsea were the only side willing to pay a loan fee of around £9m in order to take Felix on loan for the rest of the season, with the 23-year-old extending his contract with Atletico before heading to west London.
A few days after joining the Blues, he had a strong debut against Fulham before mysteriously receiving a red card and receiving a three-game ban.
Despite Graham Potter’s team’s general struggles in 2023, Felix has consistently been one of their best players when he’s been on the field.
Felix acknowledged that qualifying for next season’s competition would play a significant role in determining where he will play next season in an interview prior to Chelsea’s crucial Champions League last 16-second leg match against Borussia Dortmund.
RELATED:
- N’Golo Kante set to extend Chelsea contract.
- Neymar will miss remainder of season with ankle injury
- Liverpool starts looking into the pitch invader who hit Andy Robertson.
“Yeah, playing in the Champions League is always different. It’s a competition that everyone wants to play,” Felix replied when asked if staying at Chelsea is dependent on reaching Europe’s top club competition.
“But now I’m focused on this Champions League, on the game. We have a lot of games yet to try to reach the Champions League in the league. It’s not over. But, yeah, playing in the Champions League is an important decision, but the future no one knows, so let’s see what happens and then we’ll see.”
He added: “Chelsea is a team who likes to attack, who likes to have the ball, who likes to dominate the game, so that’s the game I like to play. I feel very free to play here, to play as I like. I’m loving it. When I left Atletico, I thought it was good for me and for them. So I think it was the perfect deal. So I think it’s important for me, this loan, and I’m very happy to play here.”
At this point, it is quite improbable that Chelsea will participate in the Champions League the following season. The Blues are now ranked 10th in the Premier League, and even if they come back from a 1-0 hole against Dortmund, they would still be strong underdogs to win the tournament.