Cesar Azpilicueta says new Chelsea signing Joao Felix is ‘unbelievable’ in training and admits he was ‘surprised’ Atletico Madrid agreed to loan him to the Premier League club.
Portugal forward Felix will spend the rest of the season on loan at Chelsea after leaving La Liga side Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
The 23-year-old has endured a mixed start to his Blues career, receiving a red card on his Premier League debut in a 2-1 defeat to Fulham but scoring in his first game back from suspension in Saturday’s draw with West Ham.
Chelsea captain Azpilicueta says Felix is ‘amazing’ on the training pitch and has tipped the loanee to have a ‘big impact’ on the team for the rest of the season.
Asked if Felix is a ‘special talent’ ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 first leg clash at Borussia Dortmund, Azpilicueta said: ‘Yes, he is.
‘I knew him from Atletico Madrid when we played against them and from watching their games in La Liga.
‘I was quite surprised when he arrived because we know the quality he has. He’s amazing in training and in the last game against West Ham, he showed the way he can turn, create spaces, play passes.
‘In training, he has been unbelievable, honestly very good. He scored the other day too and that will help with his confidence.
‘He is a young boy with great experience and great confidence, who is making already a big impact in the team.
‘I am looking forward to seeing him in the team and performing at this level.’
Felix is one of a number of new additions at Chelsea, with Blues owner Todd Boehly spending almost £600m on transfers over the past two windows.
‘It’s been a bit of a busier January transfer than before but in my role, I try to help the new players adapt as quickly as possible to the team,’ Azpilicueta added.
‘In football, sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to start your journey in a new club, country, a different language.
‘So from my side, I’ve been trying to help integrate them as quickly as possible in the team so that they can express themselves and show their quality, like a few of the boys have done already. I think we have exciting times ahead.’
Chelsea’s poor form under Graham Potter has seen the club slip to 10th in the Premier League, 10 points outside the Champions League places and 20 behind leaders Arsenal.
Dortmund are enjoying a superb run in the Bundesliga and have won all six of their matches in 2023 to climb to third in the table.
