The man of the week climbed on top of the billboards. He then extended his arms as if to say “the world is mine”, looked at the stands and celebrated effusively. The man of the week belongs to Atlético, but he is from Barça. This time he did not kiss the shield, as he did against Porto, but he did not spare himself the celebration in any way. João Félix spoke out. He not only likes the Barcelona style more than that of the red and white team that owns the rights to it, but he also takes advantage of it to be the protagonist. “He lacks consistency,” Griezmann said. “Everyone can do well one day,” Simeone dedicated to him. “He could have done better at Atlético,” Saúl said. The answer was given last night by the Portuguese playmaker. He did not need to speak, but to get it right, to silence mouths. The most emphatic response was to anticipate and avoid Molina's entrance. The best message, use the left boot to lift the ball over Oblak's desperate exit.
“I hope that if he scores he won't celebrate,” Atlético's president, Enrique Cerezo, had requested. The rebel João Félix didn't pay attention to that either. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time. How not to be happy. Meanwhile, the cameras focused on Simeone's face, a whole poem. The Portuguese's revenge was already on the table. His revenge, be decisive and constant. “My celebration has been spontaneous. “It has been a relief for everything I experienced last summer,” said the Portuguese after the match.
He had not scored in the League since September 16 against Betis, but against Atlético he did not want to fail. He gained momentum and confidence against Porto by scoring the winning goal. He sharpened his aim because the red and white team was arriving. The team where he did not finish succeeding for three and a half seasons and where he left, at least provisionally, with insults from the Metropolitano stands.
He has five goals this season, which isn't many, but at Barcelona he feels like the undisputed starter. The numbers say so, since he has been in the lineup in ten of the last eleven League games.
Beyond the goal, João Félix was a headache for Giménez, who could not stop him. For Witsel, who caught him and earned a yellow. For Azpilicueta, who was also cautioned for tackling him, and for Hermoso, who stepped on him inside the area without the VAR coming in to warn the referee. The Portuguese, cheered on by part of the fans, was a magnet for kicks from rivals. “When the stands sang my name I didn't believe it. “I know the greatness of Barça and it is something that does not happen to many players.”
Not only was he fine with the ball, but without the ball he pressed with ardour. He defended like never before and earned an unfair yellow. It was his game and he did not avoid the spotlight, but went for it. When he was relieved, the public stood up and bid him farewell. In the end, João Félix did hug some of his former teammates.
“I get along very well with almost all of them. May they do well, except against Barça. I have not crossed paths with Cholo,” said the forward. On his face, a huge smile. He had gotten his way. Hail Felix.
