De Jong revival helps Barca dream big

Barcelona's improvement under Hansi Flick has helped Frenkie de Jong return to form, and in return, the Dutchman's presence has allowed his club to aspire to new heights this season.

The Catalan club is in contention for a possible quadruple, and hosts Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Since De Jong has reestablished himself, Barcelona has stepped up a gear, battling its way back to the top of La Liga, as well as enjoying a successful European campaign thus far.

It last won the Champions League in 2015, and, after a catalogue of humiliations, finds itself back among the favorites to lift the trophy.

Last season, it reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020, and, this year, is favorite to progress to the final four.

De Jong has formed a stylish partnership at the heart of Barcelona's midfield with Pedri Gonzalez.

While neither player is at their best when burdened with defensive responsibilities, together they do enough to help Barcelona survive at the back, while flourishing offensively.

"Playing with someone like Pedri makes life easier," said De Jong last week.

Flick hailed the duo after they helped Barca reach the Copa del Rey final with an away win at Atletico Madrid.

"Frenkie and Pedri were unbelievable, really brave with the ball, keeping possession," enthused their coach.

It has been a long road back for De Jong, who, until the turn of the year, was behind Marc Casado in the pecking order.

Flick started the season with youngster Marc Bernal at the base of midfield, but, after he suffered a long-term injury, turned to Casado.

De Jong was injured in April 2024 and only returned to fitness in October, and, for a while, Flick used him sparingly.

"He must deal with this situation, he must regain his confidence," Flick warned in November.

As Barcelona's form slumped toward the end of last year, he started using De Jong ahead of Casado, and it quickly paid dividends.

The Catalans are unbeaten in 22 matches in 2025, with De Jong only participating in one of Barca's six defeats this season.

Casado later suffered an injury that is likely to keep him out until the end of the season, but the Dutchman had already secured his spot in the lineup by then.

"Casa hasn't done anything wrong... Frenkie is doing really well," explained Flick.

"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."

Handbrake off

De Jong was billed as the successor to Sergio Busquets when he arrived from Ajax in 2019 for 75 million euros ($82 million), completing a dream move he had wished for since his youth.

However, despite a bright start, it quickly became clear his dynamic game was badly hampered in a deep-lying role.

Years of inconsistent form, injury niggles and being forced towards the exit by the club, keen to recoup his transfer fee and unburden themselves of his wages, left De Jong in a difficult position.

De Jong has never quite fitted into the team in a position that seems totally suited to him, and, even now, his presence does leave Barcelona more exposed at the back.

However, Flick's team plays with the handbrake off, and it is gloriously entertaining, scoring four or more goals on 20 occasions this season.

De Jong helps the team progress with the ball, adding touches of quality and daring to Barcelona's build-up play.

"De Jong, who was sprinting nearly 90 meters, or something like that (to join the attack), this is the mentality, the attitude of the team, and it's good," Flick said after Barca thumped Girona 4-1 in March.

The situation off the pitch has turned for De Jong too, with reports he may sign a new deal in the coming months.

After a frustrating half-decade in the Catalan capital, he seems to finally be settling in.

AFP