Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix has denied there are issues between him and head coach Diego Simeone.
The Portugal star has struggled for consistency on the Wanda Metropolitano and Simeone appeared to query his work-rate final week, though he later claimed his feedback had been misinterpreted.
The €126million attacker is ready to begin on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge, the place Atleti will try to overturn a 1-0 deficit to Chelsea within the Champions League final 16.
The 21-year-old, who has vowed to verify he maximises his expertise throughout his profession, now hopes to show there’s a sturdy working relationship on the membership.
“I’m glad right here, my household are too. There are good and not-so-good phases all over the place,” he instructed reporters on Tuesday.
“I needed to defend for Benfica and the nationwide workforce, too. I’ll do what I’ve to do right here.
“With out will, expertise doesn’t come via. Many proficient gamers couldn’t attain the highest attributable to not having will and I don’t need that to occur to me.
“The second for me needs to be on a regular basis. We’re sturdy as a result of we’re a really sturdy group. And that would be the case tomorrow.”
Joao Felix precipitated a stir with a pointed celebration after scoring towards Villarreal, through which he made a ‘shushing’ gesture, one thing that delighted Simeone.
The participant himself says the incident was merely a part of a joke with team-mate Renan Lodi, which was blown out of proportion.
“I already stated on Instagram that it was a joke with Lodi. The press likes to speak about issues they don’t learn about,” he stated.
“My relationship with Cholo is excellent. He at all times tries to assist me. We’re right here to assist one another.”
12 – Thomas Tuchel is unbeaten in all 12 of his video games in control of Chelsea in all competitions, the joint-longest unbeaten begin by a supervisor within the membership’s historical past (Felipe Scolari additionally 12). Bounce. pic.twitter.com/mJ8V91wObe
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 13, 2021
Atleti are unbeaten beneath Simeone in two earlier Champions League journeys to Stamford Bridge and have progressed from 4 of the eight two-legged ties within the competitors through which they’ve misplaced the primary leg.
Nevertheless, a run of two wins in 10 away video games within the knockouts doesn’t bode properly towards a aspect who’re unbeaten in 12 matches beneath Thomas Tuchel and have conceded solely twice in that run.
Simeone hopes to show that good type right into a damaging for Chelsea, who’ve had to deal with solely minimal setbacks since Tuchel changed Frank Lampard.
“I consider as we speak Chelsea don’t have a weak spot,” he stated. “The one factor is that they don’t know what can occur from a damaging standpoint.
“They haven’t had a damaging outcome but and that might be a query till it occurs.
“We face a workforce that has achieved fairly properly since their coach has come, they’ve by no means misplaced. They really feel sturdy at dwelling and are enjoying fairly properly.
“They’ve had video games like us across the Champions League matches which were shut and difficult. We’ve to take the match the place we would like so we will win with a objective. The only concept is to win.”
16 – Luis Suárez has scored 16 targets in his first 17 video games for Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga, turning into the quickest participant to succeed in 16 targets for a similar membership within the competitors within the twenty first century (Cristiano Ronaldo – 15 targets for Actual Madrid in 2009/10). Superb. pic.twitter.com/wHbLRFdA7P
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 8, 2021
Simeone is backing Luis Suarez to make the distinction and finish his barren Champions League run, the Uruguay striker having not scored within the competitors this season.
Suarez’s away run within the competitors is of higher concern, the 34-year-old having failed to attain in his earlier 25 such video games for Atleti and Barcelona since netting in a 1-1 draw with Roma at Stadio Olimpico in September 2015.
“I consider Suarez is essential for us,” Simeone stated. “Most likely tomorrow is the best day for Luis Suarez to finish the streak. Why not? Tomorrow might be a gorgeous day.”