UEFA’s new relaxed rules on players being cup-tied means that Joao Felix will be allowed to feature for Chelsea in the Champions League when he joins the club.
The Blues are reportedly in the final stages of securing a deal for the 23-year-old that will see him join the club for the rest of the season.
The Champions League is Chelsea’s last chance at silverware this season. They have already been dumped out of both domestic cup competitions at the hands of Manchester City.
Despite winning their group, the Blues have certainly not been blessed with a straight forward Round of 16 tie.
They will travel to Germany to face Borussia Dortmund on the 15th of February, before welcoming their opponents for the second leg of the competition on the 7th of March.
It should perhaps be looked at as a fantastic achievement by Graham Potter that the Blues have even got to this stage.
Can Joao Felix play in the Champions League for Chelsea?
He took over the club after an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, Thomas Tuchel’s last game in charge of the club.
The former Brighton man’s first game in charge was the 1-1 draw with RB Salzurg, leaving the Blues on one point from two group games.
Then, a sensational pair of performances against Serie A champions AC Milan set them on their way to topping the group in style.
Chelsea will be surely looking to call on Felix for the Dortmund ties, with their attacking impotence being tame before his arrival.
Injuries have also played a part in the inconsistencies up front. Both Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic have endured injuries since the return from the World Cup that have ruled them out of numerous games.
While Felix may not hold all the answers to their goalscoring woes, his undoubted raw talent will certainly help Chelsea’s last shot at silverware in 2023.