Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong “needs to be managed” according to head coach Hansi Flick.
The 27-year-old, who returned from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for six months in October, has had to settle for limited minutes this campaign.
The Netherlands international has made just two starts this season amid that injury. Pedri and Marc Casado have been Flick’s preferred starting midfield pivot, with De Jong regularly coming off the bench.
Flick said: “De Jong has been through a long injury and he took a heavy blow in Belgrade (on November 6) that was very painful and that has to be managed. Now he needs to regain his confidence.
“I know it’s very important for him to have minutes, but we analyse every game and the important thing is to win. I want the best possible team and that’s how we make decisions. That’s why he might not get as many minutes as he would like or as much as we would like.”
De Jong has suffered a string of injury issues since joining Barcelona from Ajax in the summer of 2019. Following the departure of Sergio Busquets in 2023, De Jong became one of the Spanish side’s captains and has skippered the side on several occasions this campaign.
Flick also provided an update on the return of Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during the 5-2 win over Crvena Zvezda on November 6.
“Lamine is back and he is ready to play,” Flick said. “We haven’t decided yet if he will start, but he can and will play.”
The Spain international’s return is a welcome boost. Yamal has scored six goals and provided eight assists in 16 games this season for Barcelona who remain four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, although Madrid do have a game in hand.
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