In the shadow of replica debts, the upcoming election and Messi's future, Barcelona are optimistic about Frankie de Jong's boom • A year and a half after landing at the Camp Nou, the relationship finally seems connected to the club, and tonight against Bilbao will try to make his teammates believe the championship fight is not over
De Jong celebrates in front of Sociedad.
Significant improvement in the last two months
Photography:
Reuters
Putting aside Barcelona's acquisition policy in recent years, which was one of the reasons for President Jose Maria Bartomeu's disgraceful departure, it seems that Frankie de Jong's flourishing in the last two months and the subsequent improvement of the whole team is not surprising to many.
It may come about a year and a half late, but it was only a matter of time before the Dutchman, who is considered a great hope among all the failures he went through at Camp Nou, would start delivering the goods.
The wonderful midfielder, who was bought two years ago from Ajax for 75 million euros in the middle of the Dutch record season (reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League), has quite a few abilities that are not recorded in the statistics.
The thing is, in the end, football players are measured by numbers.
Barça's home loss to Juventus on 8 December was their fifth of the season in all competitions, and de Jong's statistics at the time stood at a lone brace in 15 games.
Since then, the guy with the baby-face has scored five goals, cooked up three more (in all settings) and has been named man of the match twice.
This in 13 games, of which Barcelona won ten, finished twice in a draw and lost in overtime to Bilbao in the Super Cup final - a game in which de Jong and Antoine Griezmann were the only ones to rise.
And thanks to Koman
The reason De Jung finally found his place in the team is much thanks to his coach Ronald Koeman.
After repeatedly trying his 4: 2: 3: 1, the lineup in which the midfielder starred at Ajax, the coach realized that the most suitable lineup for the team is the classic 4: 3: 3.
If in the initial set-up De Jong was stuck behind and worked quite a bit defensively, now he is more relaxed, reaches empty spaces, takes advantage of his wonderful dribble, comes from a second line, and as mentioned - conquers quite a bit.
With Sergio Busquets behind him, he feels more comfortable attacking.
Koeman, whom de Jong consulted before signing for Blaugrana, had personal conversations with his compatriot, tried to take the pressure off him and pushed him to play with confidence.
"We need him at his best," Koeman said after the game against Elche, where De Jong scored and cooked, "We talked to him to improve his attacking game and score more. He is more complete now than when he played for Ajax."
Indeed, De Jong's five goals in recent times are more than the amount he has scored in three years in the Dutch champions' uniform.
De Jong's flourishing is important to Barça not only professionally.
The 10-point gap between her and Atletico Madrid that leads the table now seems like a minor problem.
The club is experiencing one of its most difficult periods in the last 20 years, is in debt of more than a billion euros, Leo Messi is ending a contract and has not yet decided whether he wants to continue, and the presidential election in March will determine the team's future a decade ahead.
In the role of heir
While the ground is bubbling under Gaudi's famous church in the coastal city and there are very few players left who are considered a local brand, de Jong's maturity and the club's historic connection to the Netherlands give quite a bit of hope to the fans.
The fact that Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Busquets are in the last line of their careers means that the luxury club must raise leaders, ones who can be connected to, and the Dutch midfielder currently looks like the man most mature to succeed the previous generation.
In parallel with the process of generational change that is taking place, Barça must continue to fight for titles.
Tonight it will host Athletic Bilbao, the only team that has managed to beat it in the last two months and which shows a huge improvement since Marcelino was appointed coach in early January.
In his first game, two days after his appointment, the coach recorded a 3: 2 loss to Barça at San Mames, when he still could not make his way.
Since then, the Basques have beaten Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Super Cup, defeated Hattafa and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Cup.
Today they will try to record another victory over Barcelona, this time in 90 minutes, in a game that will be an opportunity for Barça's hot man to try and instill in his teammates the feeling that the championship fight is not over yet.
