Joao Felix reveals his bond with ‘great coach’ Graham Potter and hints at a longer stay at Chelsea

Joao Felix has opened up on his relationships with both Graham Potter at Chelsea and Diego Simeone at parent club Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese star revealed that he has already formed a bond with Potter, as well as admitting that he felt he needed a change of scene this winter after several fruitless attempts to adapt to Simeone’s playing style. 

A versatile forward, Felix was often played as one of two strikers in a 4-4-2 and asked to stay high up the pitch rather than get involved in deeper positions, despite his natural technical abilities.

But after several disappointing campaigns – given the £114million Atletico Madrid forked out for him – he has the chance to rejuvenate his career by impressing on loan.

In the wide-ranging interview with Spanish outlet AS, Felix told of how he spoke with Potter early on in his stay, with the manager outlining ‘the game idea he had thought for me’.

He spoke of how ‘great coach’ Graham Potter outlined how he would be deployed at the Blues

Felix and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone have a frosty relationship with the former struggling to adapt to the latter’s tactics

‘One of the first days he called me into his locker room,’ the 23-year-old began. ‘We were talking about his game idea, the game idea he had thought for me.

‘He explained to me how the team plays, what they do. I really like that he interacted with me. He shows that he is a very good person and a great coach. 

‘He likes to have the ball, control the game and attack. Of course, they can also defend when they have to defend, but they like to control the game and attack. I like that.’

There is not thought to be much love lost between Felix and Simeone – nicknamed El Cholo – with the former struggling to adapt to the latter’s tactical outlook. 

Atleti admitted that they would be willing to allow the forward to leave, but only if they should receive bids of £124m, according to reports, but the Portuguese superstar is not thought to want a return should Simeone remain in charge. 

But Felix did have the awareness to admit that Simeone is of course one of the leading managers in Europe, and that he had helped improve his game, irrespective of their relationship. 

‘I was already looking for a change of scene because it was difficult to get used to the way of playing. I left because my head was already full…