Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone Confirms Joao Felix Will Start Against Chelsea

Diego Simeone has confirmed that Joao Felix will start for Atletico Madrid against Chelsea on Wednesday night as they look to overturn their 1-0 first leg deficit at Stamford Bridge.

Olivier Giroud’s overhead kick in the first leg in Bucharest handed Chelsea a precious advantage three weeks ago but Simeone will go all-out to make the Champions League quarter-finals.

Portuguese star Felix only came off the bench at half-time in Atletico’s LaLiga match with Getafe on Saturday and couldn’t force a winner in a goalless draw

READ ALSO; 39-YEAR-OLD ZLATAN CALLED UP FOR SWEDEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2016

But, sitting alongside the 21-year-old in Tuesday’s preview press conference, Simeone said he ‘will play from the beginning’ in London after several recent games in which he has started on the bench.

He added: ‘Joao is a very important player. He made a spectacular start. We need that player.

‘He has to keep growing because he is 21 years old and he has the will to do it.’

Simeone was asked if Atletico may need to rediscover the spirit that saw them overcome Liverpool in last season’s last-16 having fallen behind in extra time at Anfield.

‘We are facing a team that is doing very well. They have not lost since the arrival of the coach [Thomas Tuchel],’ he said.

‘They are playing very well. Tomorrow we only need to win and that is what we will seek.’