Journalist Nizaar Kinsella has claimed that Joao Felix was on the end of a lot of abuse from Real Madrid fans whilst playing for Chelsea last night.
He claimed on Twitter that the 23-year-old got it bad when he was replaced in the second half by Kai Havertz.
It was a rough night all round for the Blues as they were soundly beaten 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Despite on the brink of elimination, they will perhaps be relatively happy to leave the Bernabeu only two goals down.
Ben Chilwell’s second half red card made things very difficult for the Blues to even consider mounting an attack, and a backs to the walls display in the second half at least kept the tie alive.
One player who was unusually quiet for Chelsea in the first half was Felix. The Portugal international was operating in a front two with Raheem Sterling.
Felix receives lots of abuse
He may have had more motivation than most when facing Madrid, given he is only on loan from their big city rivals Atletico.
Things didn’t work out as planned though, and Kinsella claimed that the reaction from the stadium when he was substituted was far from pleasant.
He said: “Joao Felix getting dogs abuse as he comes off for Havertz. Sterling also goes off for Chalobah.”
Chelsea seemed to be playing Felix with his back to goal for the majority of the time there were 11 men on the pitch, perhaps in a desperate attempt to finally find a recognised number nine.
This however limited in from what he does best – get the Blues up the pitch and take on defenders.
Frank Lampard will no doubt have been cursing the previous decision to leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the squad for European competitions.
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