'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMpnkn//xAAiEAACAQIFBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBQAGEiEyESMxQmH/2gAIAQEAAT8As9zsyZsO1LHY5alOtRUU5M2lAWUsqKRz0+B6jEtzyMJX7mZ5N+aPGqt9Ax//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMSMf/aAAgBAgEBPwBxXes//8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAC/9oACAEDAQE/ADaF/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that midfielder Frenkie de Jong is back to training with the team after a prolonged injury absence. He hinted that the Dutchman could feature for some minutes in the club's UEFA Champions League clash vs Young Boys at home on October 1.
The midfielder has been out since April 2024, when he suffered his third consecutive ankle injury during Barca's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in La Liga. Owing to his recovery, De Jong missed 38 matches for club and country since April, including the 2024 Euros with the Netherlands.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of facing Young Boys, Hansi Flick provided a clear update about De Jong's availability. He said (via Barca Universal):
“Yes, it’s great news to have Frenkie in the team, whether it’s five minutes or ten minutes. It’s very important for us. We have had players injured and after October we will get three players back."
Flick added that De Jong could play if he feels up to it, saying:
“We are all happy when they come back, and it will be good for Frenkie too to come back, to be there, to be able to be with the youngsters. And if he gets the chance to play, he will. I don’t know if 45, 20 or 10. And it will be good for him, in my opinion.”
When asked if Frenkie de Jong could get minutes in Barcelona's Champions League fixture vs Young Boys on Tuesday, Flick explained:
“In Frenkie’s case we have to see how the match goes. With Eric’s red card, we lost a midfielder and if we count, we don’t have many players left in this position. It’s important that very few mistakes are made in the midfield.”
Barcelona are severely lacking in the midfield with multiple key players unavailable due to injuries like Dani Olmo, Gavi, and Fermin Lopez. Frenkie de Jong's return could help the Catalan side bring back the much-needed creativity in the midfield.
"The key is to make few mistakes" - Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explains his tactics ahead of Champions League clash vs Young Boys
In the pre-match press conference, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explained how his side plans to face Young Boys. He said (via Barca Universal):
"If you make a lot of mistakes, like against Osasuna, it’s harder to defend. Precisely when the other team plays well on the counter, you have to reduce the mistakes. The players do that very well."
La Blaugrana suffered their first loss in La Liga this season, as Osasuna beat them 4-2 on September 28. They also began their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 loss to AS Monaco away.
Speaking further about the mistakes Barcelona should avoid against Young Boys, the German coach added:
“When we have the ball, we know how to play, how to combine, how to be positioned. The key is to make few mistakes. We have to assume and be clear that we all have our responsibility on the pitch.”
After their UCL clash against Young Boys on October 1, Barca will face Alaves away in La Liga on Sunday, October 6.
