Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong has not been having fun with his greatest spell as a footballer in current months.
After a number of months sidelined with an ankle damage, his return to motion didn’t instantly convey again the shape he had beforehand proven and he needed to make do with a spot on the bench as a rule.
As usually occurs in such conditions, hypothesis and rumours about his future started to flow into whereas he was additionally on the receiving finish of some whistles from the Barça followers within the recreation towards Brest.
In the meantime, supervisor Hansi Flick, in a current press convention, talked about that Dutch worldwide wanted to regain his confidence after an prolonged spell out on the sidelines.
Mallorca cameo the turning level?
If confidence was what De Jong wanted, his efficiency final night time within the 5-1 win over Mallorca may very properly mark a turning level.
Frenkie scored and assisted a objective vs Mallorca. (Photograph by Rafa Babot/Getty Photos)
The Dutch midfielder scored a objective and supplied an help inside the 18 minutes he performed on the pitch. Nonetheless, his efficiency was past simply the objective and the help.
Certainly, De Jong displayed his normal class with the ball, alongside a excessive stage of verticality, urgent, and management in his brief time on the pitch at Son Moix.
The 27-year-old did so whereas enjoying in a unique position than Flick had sometimes assigned to him when the coach had been capable of name upon him.
De Jong took up a extra superior place, performing as an attacking midfielder, with Gavi and Eric Garcia alongside him in a double pivot. This new freedom allowed him to press increased up the pitch and drive the ball ahead.
It can now be as much as De Jong to construct on this efficiency and keep this stage of play in future alternatives.