De Jong had already warned

Frenkie de Jong returned to the pitch in last Sunday’s Clásico. The 29-year-old Dutch midfielder was making his comeback after recovering from the ligament tear he suffered during the World Cup, and he showed that he is fully recovered from the serious injury despite playing in a position that is not his own, attacking midfielder. The former Ajax professional is fighting back: he refuses to be sidelined. He already said so a few days ago, and he is not backing down. 

“I have never experienced being on the bench for an extended period, and I hope I won’t have to do so this season. I am now fully fit, I am getting stronger every day, and I hope to play more minutes soon. I know I need to come back gradually, but my long-term goal is to play regularly and return to the starting eleven as soon as possible,” commented De Jong on Ziggo Sport. 

After recovering from the tear in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee, which occurred during the World Cup with the Netherlands national team, Flick included him in the squad against Betis in LaLiga and against PSG in the Champions League. But he stayed on the bench. In the Clásico, he gave him some minutes. He played 16". He came on in place of Fermín López and the Barça coach deployed him as an attacking midfielder, a new position for the Dutch international. But he performed at a good level.

"He had trained very well and gives us a lot of strength with the ball. It was very important for us that he played a few minutes," said Hansi Flick about the presence of "21" in the Clásico and in the attacking midfield role.

Versatile

Frenkie de Jong was involved in 233 passes, of which 217 were successful (93.13%), and almost all of them, 211, were short. But, in addition to playing a key role in build-up, he was also a standout in defense: he made 20 ball recoveries, intercepted 8 passes, and took part in 29 duels, winning 17. 

The Dutch international accepts the intense competition in the two double-pivot positions, but it neither worries nor intimidates him. He believes in his talent. Flick has Pedri and Rodri as his starters in the center of midfield, but Gavi and Marc Bernal are also contenders for that role. His repositioning as an attacking midfielder opens a new window for him to gain minutes. That position, now occupied by Fermín, has been left somewhat orphaned by Dani Olmo's injury.