Joao Felix and the shadow of Griezmann – Spain – Abroad

His price and his status as Griezmann's "successor" keep him constantly in the limelight. Joao Felix is ​​the main focus of Atletico Madrid this season. If it is clear that the Colchoneros have recruited a future nugget, the Portuguese has the responsibility to fill the big gap left by "Grizou" within this Madrid team. "I think he can bear the brunt of the pressure of the numbers that accompany him," Jose Mourinho confided recently. Does the 19 year old meet expectations?

During preseason, Joao Felix managed to fill the empty hearts of orphans supporters of their former No. 7, freshly left for FC Barcelona. With four goals and three assists in the preparation matches, the Portuguese prodigy was already well integrated in the offensive game. But when the La Liga and the Champions League have come their way, the most expensive rookie at Atletico Madrid has given way to doubts. The fans quickly blamed him for his lack of consistency and not being decisive in important matches. But it takes time. Diego Simeone, his new mentor, installs him little by little. Joao Felix has only finished two of Atletico's ten games this season. He is the most replaced player in Liga. Is the situation worrying? Not at all.

Joao Felix plays more than Griezmann

The Argentinian technician has demonstrated before, his way of acting with recruits whose expectations are immense. The Griezmann case is the best example. Purchased 30 million euros to Real Sociedad, the French alternated tenure and starts on the bench until the match against Athletic Bilbao in December 2014, in which he had scored a hat-trick. Nevertheless, Griezmann started with a considerable advantage: the knowledge of the Spanish championship. The French international landed in Madrid after playing 200 games with Real Sociedad, where he scored 52 goals. Joao Felix, he already has the confidence of the coach since he has been tenured in all matches. "At 26, Griezmann was starting to be really good. João Felix at 19 years old. There is a difference of seven years, "explained Diego Simeone to defend his new protege on the set of Cadena Ser. With 85.5% of the minutes played since the start of the season, the Portuguese is the most used rookie under the Diego Simeone era. The French had played 27.8% less at the same time in his first season.

What about the game?

With three goals and one assist in all competitions, Joao Felix is ​​top scorer and co-best passer of Atletico Madrid. For now, the Portuguese has evolved to three different positions: second striker, left winger and right winger. His versatility is his strength. "He can play forward center, midfielder axial, take the space behind the defenders … He has incredible punching power. It is better in the axis, but its strength is the movement "confided Bruno Lage, his former coach in Lisbon, France Football. With a lot of freedom and ease in small areas, the former Benfica player manages to combine with his teammates, including Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata. Either in one or two keys of balls, or by freeing them spaces by attracting the defenders. Against Lokomotiv Moscow, his best match this season, Joao Felix was playing in support of the two Spanish forwards. "They are players with a lot of qualities. It's easier to score and have goal actions. (…) I have more space to get the ball (with this system) "he explained after the match. It remains to be seen when the Portuguese gem will succeed in converting these goal actions. But that he is reassured, Cristiano Ronaldo, to whom the Lusitanian press likes to compare it, said: "the goals are like ketchup, when they arrive, they all come at the same time. "