Frenkie De Jong hits back at critics and sends Hansi Flick message

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has expressed his vexation astatine the changeless speculation surrounding him, portion making it wide that helium wants to reclaim a regular starting spot nether Hansi Flick.

The Netherlands planetary spoke retired aft reaching 300 appearances for the Catalan giants during Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League triumph implicit Aston Villa, having precocious returned from a lengthy wounded absence.

De Jong believes that his performances, fittingness and aboriginal pull considerably much scrutiny than those of his teammates, peculiarly erstwhile helium is unavailable for selection.

However, the 29-year-old besides delivered an encouraging update connected his carnal condition, insisting that his genu is nary longer causing problems and that helium is acceptable to vie for a much salient role.

His comments get astatine an important infinitesimal for Flick, with Barcelona preparing to look Atletico Madrid this play and uncertainty emerging implicit the availability of chap midfielder Rodri.

Frenkie de Jong responds to Barcelona disapproval aft wounded return

Speaking to reporters pursuing the triumph implicit Aston Villa, De Jong acknowledged that the speculation surrounding him had go a recurring root of frustration.

"There is ever a spot of sound astir me, particularly erstwhile I'm not there," the midfielder said, arsenic quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

"For immoderate reason, successful the summertime erstwhile determination is nary football, oregon erstwhile I'm injured..."

De Jong went connected to suggest that helium receives much attraction than different members of the Barcelona squad, though helium accepted that this mightiness partially bespeak his idiosyncratic perception.

"I consciousness that determination is ever much sound astir maine than astir others. But possibly that's conscionable my content erstwhile radical speech astir me. These are things I don't person overmuch power over."

The Dutchman's remarks travel respective months of questions astir his fittingness and presumption astatine Camp Nou.

De Jong sustained a genu ligament wounded portion representing the Netherlands astatine the 2026 World Cup, leaving him unavailable for the opening weeks of Barcelona's campaign.

During his recovery, helium besides addressed reports concerning his narration with Flick and the club's hierarchy, rejecting suggestions that helium had fallen retired with the German coach.

His latest comments suggest that the scrutiny remains a delicate subject, adjacent aft his instrumentality to competitory action.

Nevertheless, De Jong was keen to emphasise that his carnal information has improved considerably.

"I consciousness precise good, precise strong, with a batch of tendency and motivation," helium explained.

"My genu isn't bothering me. What's happened has happened."

The midfielder made his archetypal quality of the play arsenic a substitute against Real Madrid connected October 25, earlier starting Barcelona's emphatic 6-1 league triumph implicit Alaves six days later.

Flick deployed him successful cardinal defence against Alaves, illustrating the versatility that has allowed the erstwhile Ajax subordinate to run successful respective positions during his Barcelona career.

Tuesday's Champions League brushwood brought different important moment, arsenic De Jong replaced Pedri successful the 70th infinitesimal to marque his 300th competitory quality for the club.

He was subsequently presented with a commemorative garment by his teammates.

Having already surpassed Philip Cocu and Ronald Koeman, De Jong holds the grounds for the astir competitory appearances by a Dutch subordinate successful Barcelona's history.

De Jong sends Flick wide connection up of Atletico Madrid clash

Despite his willingness to assistance successful defence, De Jong made nary concealed of his preferred presumption oregon his tendency to instrumentality to the starting lineup.

"I consciousness much comfy successful midfield, but I volition assistance the squad wherever it needs me," helium said.

Asked whether helium hoped to commencement against Atletico Madrid connected Sunday, the Dutch planetary acknowledged that his caller wounded would power Flick's decision.

"I would similar to commencement matches, but we person to instrumentality into relationship that I've been retired for a agelong time, and that depends connected the coaching staff."

His comments are peculiarly applicable pursuing Rodri's withdrawal astatine fractional clip against Aston Villa.

The erstwhile Manchester City midfielder complained of muscular discomfort during Tuesday's encounter, prompting Flick to present Marc Bernal for the 2nd half.

Barcelona person since confirmed a insignificant hamstring injury, leaving Rodri's availability for the travel to Atletico successful doubt.

Flick has already suggested that Bernal could beryllium considered arsenic a replacement, portion besides pointing retired that De Jong has lone precocious returned from injury.

That leaves the Barcelona manager with a determination to marque implicit his midfield combination, peculiarly fixed the demands of facing 1 of La Liga's strongest opponents distant from home.

De Jong's quality to run alongside Pedri, supply antiaircraft screen oregon lend further guardant gives Flick different option, but his constricted minutes this play stay a consideration.

The Dutchman has repeatedly expressed his committedness to Barcelona, having signed a declaration hold until June 2029.

His contiguous priority, however, is considerably much straightforward: putting his wounded problems down him and earning a spot successful the squad done his performances.

After reaching 300 appearances, De Jong is determined that his adjacent section astatine Barcelona should beryllium defined by what helium contributes connected the transportation alternatively than the speculation surrounding him.