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Frenkie de Jong's Redemption: How Hansi Flick Unlocked His Potential

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Frenkie de Jong's career at Barcelona took a dramatic turn under Hansi Flick, who unlocked his potential and helped him rediscover his form.



Frenkie de Jong's journey back to form was marked by a significant setback, as he suffered an injury in April 2024 and only returned to fitness in October. Initially, coach Hansi Flick used him sparingly, warning that De Jong needed to regain his confidence. “He must deal with this situation, he must regain his confidence,” Flick said in November.


As Barcelona's form began to slump towards the end of last year, Flick started to rely more heavily on De Jong, preferring him over Marc Casado. The move quickly paid dividends, as De Jong's increased playing time coincided with an improvement in the team's performances. This change in approach proved to be a key turning point for both De Jong and Barcelona.


Barcelona has enjoyed an impressive run in 2025, remaining unbeaten in 22 matches. Notably, Frenkie de Jong has only featured in one of the team's six defeats this season. Marc Casado's injury, which is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season, came after De Jong had already established himself as the preferred choice.


Coach Hansi Flick praised De Jong's progress, saying, “Casa hasn't done anything wrong... Frenkie is doing really well.” Flick highlighted De Jong's remarkable comeback from a significant injury, adding, “I spoke with Frenkie the first day here. He had a huge injury, came back step by step, day by day and he's getting better. And now I think also you can see how good he is, how good he is for the team.” Flick's comments underscore De Jong's importance to the team's current success.


A New Era for De Jong




Frenkie de Jong was hailed as the successor to Sergio Busquets when he joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 for 75 million euros ($82 million). However, his early promise was hindered by struggles to adapt to a deep-lying role, which stifled his dynamic game. Years of inconsistent form, injuries, and being pushed towards the exit by the club left De Jong in a difficult position. Despite never quite fitting into the team, his presence still brings a unique quality to Barcelona's build-up play.


De Jong's struggles seemed to be behind him under Hansi Flick's management, who has adopted a more attacking approach. Flick's team plays with a sense of freedom, scoring four or more goals on 20 occasions this season. De Jong's contributions have been significant, adding touches of quality and daring to Barcelona's build-up play. Flick praised De Jong's attitude, saying, “De Jong, who was sprinting nearly 90 metres or something like that (to join the attack) - this is the mentality, the attitude of the team and it's good.” The change in approach has not only improved De Jong's performances but also turned his situation off the pitch around, with reports suggesting he may sign a new deal in the coming months.


Frenkie de Jong's resurgence has been a key factor in Barcelona's remarkable turnaround this season. Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, the Dutch midfielder has rediscovered his form, and his presence has elevated the team to new heights. Barcelona is now in contention for a possible quadruple, with a crucial Champions League quarter-final match against Borussia Dortmund looming.


The Catalan giants have made a strong comeback, battling their way back to the top of La Liga and making impressive progress in Europe. After a disappointing period, Barcelona is once again among the favorites to lift the Champions League trophy, which they last won in 2015. Having reached the quarter-finals last season for the first time since 2020, they are now considered strong contenders to progress to the final four this year.


Frenkie de Jong has formed a dynamic partnership with Pedri Gonzalez at the heart of Barcelona's midfield. While neither player excels when tasked with defensive responsibilities, their combination allows them to thrive offensively while still providing sufficient defensive support. De Jong acknowledged the benefits of playing alongside Pedri, saying, “Playing with a player like Pedri makes life easier.”


Coach Hansi Flick has praised the duo for their impressive performances, particularly in the Copa del Rey semi-final win over Atletico Madrid. “Frenkie and Pedri were unbelievable, really brave with the ball, keeping the possession,” Flick enthused. De Jong's journey back to form has been a long one, having been behind Marc Casado in the pecking order until the turn of the year. Flick initially started the season with youngster Marc Bernal at the base of midfield, but after Bernal's long-term injury, relied on Casado before eventually turning to De Jong.
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