Joao Félix is anticipating a tough environment at his former club’s stadium this weekend.
Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona are set to clash this Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano. Both teams have secured spots in the Champions League quarterfinals and are now focusing on La Liga just before the international break.
Following their advancement to the quarterfinals, Joao Félix spoke on DAZN about the upcoming match at his former team’s stadium, anticipating a challenging atmosphere: “It’s going to be a very tough environment for the whole team. Against me, it’s going to be a bit worse, but I’m a football player and I have to be used to this kind of thing… It motivates me more; I like these important and spicy matches; there’s an extra motivation.” Reflecting on the first leg, where he scored the winning goal and celebrated amidst tension, Félix remarked: “The first leg at home was already difficult, and there it’s going to be even more so. They defend and counterattack very well, and the crowd will help them a lot.” Despite being on loan from the Madrid club, Félix doesn’t anticipate a return, and he downplayed the impact of Xavi’s announcement on the team’s performance: “I don’t think it has anything to do with the results. We’re playing the same, with the same lineup, the same ideas, but it’s football. Things weren’t going well before, and now they are, but it’s not because he said he’s leaving.”
Regarding his future, Félix remained non-committal: “For now, I’m focused here and I don’t think beyond that because everything depends on how it goes until the end.” Another player to speak out was Ronald Araujo, amidst speculation that he could be sold in the summer due to the club’s financial issues: “Everyone knows I’m very happy in Barcelona, and whenever I put on the shirt, I try to show it. I’m very happy here, and I’ll always give everything.”
