"A noticeable shift is taking place in Barcelona's midfield hierarchy, and Frenkie de Jong is no longer immune to competition under Hansi Flick. According to a recent update from AS, the Dutchman has lost the privileged status he once enjoyed in the German coach's starting XI, largely due to the impressive emergence of Eric Garcia in a more influential role."
"The change has not happened overnight, but recent matches suggest Flick is no longer fully convinced by the Dutchman's performances. It is noticeable that De Jong's influence has waned, and the Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt offered another telling example. He started the match on the bench and did not step onto the pitch until the 66th minute. Crucially, this was not an isolated case. De Jong has struggled to rack up meaningful minutes in recent weeks."
"Some of those absences can be explained by external factors. De Jong was a late withdrawal from the squad against Atletico Madrid due to a fever. He was unavailable for the trip to Alaves because of a family matter, and suspension ruled him out of the Athletic Club fixture on the emotionally charged night of Barcelona's return to the Camp Nou. Even so, the broader pattern remains difficult to ignore."
Frenkie de Jong's standing in Barcelona's midfield hierarchy has shifted, with his guaranteed starting role no longer secure under Hansi Flick. Pedri retains a cornerstone role while Eric Garcia's emergence has created new competition and influence in midfield. De Jong's playing time has decreased: he began the Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt on the bench, entering in the 66th minute, failed to complete even half an hour across the last two matches, and missed three of the last four La Liga games. Some absences were due to a fever, a family matter, and suspension, but the overall reduction in minutes is evident.
Read at Barca Universal
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