- Hansi Flick confirmed that Frenkie de Jong should return to FC Barcelona action after the March international break.
- The Dutchman was on a good run of form, and was spotted apparently crying in his car after a tragic ‘outer lower right hamstring’ twinge in training as confirmed by the club.
- Flick’s number 21 has been missed in midfield, but his absence has paved the way for youngsters such as Marc Bernal to take a step forward.
At a prematch press conference to preview Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Sevilla, Hansi Flick stated his belief that midfielder Frenkie de Jong should return next month.
“We hope he will return after the break. Everything is going well, I think he will be back after the international matches,” the German said when asked about the Dutchman on Saturday afternoon, amid hinting that rotations could be a port of call when hosting the Andalusians at the Spotify Camp Nou.
De Jong’s setback couldn’t have happened at a worse time for the team or the player, who appeared to have been caught crying in his car while leaving the Joan Gamper CT after learning the full extent of his knock.
A club statement said that the 27-year-old should be out for “five to six weeks”, and Flick’s prediction means that he could at least be available for an April 4th showdown with Atletico Madrid which this weekend was confirmed to take place in the Metropolitano at 21:00 local time on a Saturday night.
Marc Bernal has stepped up for FC Barcelona in Frenkie de Jong’s absence
At a top club like Barça, one player’s forced absence is almost always another’s gain and that someone afforded the chance to show what they can do often hails from La Masia.
Himself back from an ACL tear picked up at Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2024, Marc Bernal took a step forward when De Jong became unavailable and showed that he boasts a goalscoring threat the more senior player doesn’t.
He had already netted against Mallorca off the bench, but Bernal then notched no fewer than three goals in five starts across all competitions – two of which came against during the failed remontada against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg – despite being a more defensive midfielder than say Fermin Lopez.
Some could be forgiven for thinking that De Jong would struggle to get back in the first XI and dislodge Bernal to take his usual place alongside Pedri in the heart of midfield when fit again, but there have been a few indicators that this might not be the case.
Tom’s Take: De Jong remains important to Flick and FC Barcelona’s cause
While Bernal is a more stationary pivot used to firing off quick, intelligent passes, De Jong’s progressive ball carrying and awkward turning out of pressing danger was missed against Newcastle United.
Bernal slumping to the St. James’ Park turf in the 70th minute of a 1-1 Champions League last 16 first leg draw on Tuesday evening showed that it would be wise for us to remember his tender years, and the fact that he has just come back from a major knock.
Before that at Athletic Club on Saturday, in a 1-0 win brought about by a Lamine Yamal second half screamer, his fellow Class of 2007 graduate had to be taken off at the interval after reportedly falling sick.
De Jong still has plenty to offer as things stand, and Bernal can’t do it all at this stage. This means he’s likely to be rested on Sunday against Sevilla while someone such as Marc Casado or Tommy Marques – if not both players – get the nod.
Should Barca advance in the Champions League, it will be interesting to see who Flick picks out of the two if they are both in good condition on the home straight as the La Liga title race also intensifies.
