The improvement of Barcelona under Hansi Flick helped Frenkie de Jong to come back in shape and, in return, the presence of the Dutch has allowed his club to aspire to new peaks this season. The Catalan giants are in the running for a possible quadruple and welcome Borussia Dortmund in the quarter -final of the Champions League on Wednesday. Since Jong has recovered, Barcelona has intensified equipment, fighting at the top of the Liga as well as navigation in Europe.
They won the Champions League for the last time in 2015 and after a catalog of humiliations is among the favorites to raise the trophy.
Last season, they reached the quarter -finals for the first time since 2020, and this year are the favorites to pass in the Final Four.
De Jong formed an elegant tandem in the heart of the Barcelona midfielder with Pedri Gonzalez.
Although none of the players is at its best when he is overwhelmed by defensive responsibilities, together, they are enough to help Barça survive in the back while flourishing offensively.
“Playing with a player like Pedri makes life easier,” said Jong last week.
Flick praised the duo after helping Barça reaching the Copa del Rey final with a victory at Atletico Madrid.
“Frenkie and Pedri were incredible, really courageous with the ball, keeping possession,” enthusiastic their coach.
It was a long road for De Jong, which until the beginning of the year was behind Marc Casado in the hierarchical order.
Flick started the season with the young Marc Bernal at the foot of the midfielder, but after having undergone a long -term injury, relied on Casado.
De Jong was injured in April 2024 and only returned to fitness in October and for a while, Flick used it sparingly.
“He has to face this situation, he must regain his confidence,” said Flick in November.
While the form of Barcelona collapsed towards the end of last year, he began to use Jong before Casado and quickly poured dividends.
The Catalans are undefeated in 22 games in 2025, by Jong participating only in one of Barça’s six defeats this season.
Casado then underwent an injury which is likely to prevent it until the end of the season, but the Dutch had already won the place by then.
“Casa did nothing wrong … Frenkie is fine,” said Flick.
“I spoke with Frenkie the first day here. He had a huge injury, returned step by step, day after day and he improves.
“And now I think you can also see how good it is, how good it is for the team.”
Handbrake
De Jong was presented as the successor of Sergio Busquets when he arrived from Ajax in 2019 for 75 million euros (82 million dollars), completing a dream decision he wanted since his youth.
However, despite a brilliant start, it quickly became clear that his dynamic game was seriously hampered if he was told to stay in a deep role.
Years of incoherent form, of injuries which are not being forced towards the exit by the club, wishing to recover its transfer costs and to unload its salary, left Jong in a difficult position.
De Jong has never entirely integrated into the team in a position that seems completely adapted to him, and even now, his presence leaves Barcelona more exposed to the rear.
However, the Flick team plays with the handbrake and they are gloriously entertaining, scoring four or more goals on 20 times this season.
De Jong helps the team progress with the ball, adding quality touches and daring to build Barcelona.
“De Jong, who sprinted almost 90 meters or something like that (to join the attack), it is the mentality, the attitude of the team and that is good,” said Flick after the Barca beat Gerona 4-1 in March.
The out of the field also turned to Jong, with reports that he could sign a new agreement in the coming months.
After a frustrating half-reception in the Catalan capital, its history finally changes for the best.
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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