Former Benfica Coach: Joao Felix Has the Potential to Become a Superstar; Blame No One Else If He Fails to Fulfill It

At 3 AM on October 3, the second round of the Champions League group stage will see Benfica host Atletico Madrid. Mentioning these two teams inevitably brings up Portuguese star Joao Felix. This young man started his career in Lisbon, winning fans’ hearts with his speed and skill before making a high-profile transfer to Atletico Madrid. Now, he is a member of Chelsea.

TheMarca newspaper invited Rui Vitoria, the former Benfica coach who promoted Felix to the first team, to share insights about this former protégé.

The current Egypt national team coach reminisced: “We gradually integrated Joao into the first team until he became an indispensable force. He possesses remarkable talent and strong decision-making skills, especially showing extraordinary wisdom near the opponent’s penalty area, simplifying complex situations. However, we adjusted our tactical system to 4-3-3, which was not easy for Joao to adapt to since he preferred playing in midfield rather than the wing position we required. Despite this, whenever the team needed him, he always responded satisfactorily. His crucial goal against Sporting Lisbon marked his rise to prominence, with increasingly outstanding performances.”

Regarding Felix’s €127 million transfer to Atletico Madrid, Vitoria commented: “I always believed that he had enormous potential to become a top player. But in the football world, success depends not only on individual ability but also on the environment. Joao is technically gifted and mentally tough. I know he can cause trouble in the opponent’s penalty area and maintain a positive attitude. I’ve always believed he would become a star on the pitch.”

But why hasn’t he been as successful under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid? Vitoria sighed, “This question, I don’t know. After all, I’m not familiar with the internal situation of the team. It might be because Atletico Madrid’s style doesn’t suit him. You know, Atletico is famous for their ‘park the bus’ tactics, intense running, and tight teamwork, which may limit Joao’s space to shine. As for changes in his personal life or whether a different coach could improve things, it’s even harder to say.”

People often say that Felix has not found his best form, whether during his brief time at Barcelona, his early days at Chelsea, or even in the national team. “In fact, every professional athlete should learn to self-reflect and see if they’re doing something wrong instead of always blaming others. Although I don’t know much about his experiences at Barcelona and Chelsea, these places seem more suited to his characteristics, so there must be factors at play that we’re unaware of,” said Vitoria.

Vitoria also mentioned the classic 2015/16 season match where Benfica overturned Atletico 2-1. “To win against Atletico Madrid, you have to be fully focused because they are powerful, have a coach well-versed in European competition, and a group of highly combative players.”

So, what does Vitoria think about the upcoming game? “It will definitely be a tough match. Benfica is in great form, high-spirited, and playing at home, so the players will naturally be more confident. However, Atletico Madrid is no pushover and will certainly bring many challenges to the game. By the way, Benfica has had one more day of rest than Atletico (Benfica played on Saturday last week, while Atletico played on Sunday), and this extra recovery time could be the key to victory!”