Barcelona started on Sunday evening in the official debut of Ronald Koeman with a convincing 4-0 victory in the new season in LaLiga. In the Dutchman’s 4-2-3-1 system, the dynamics of ‘old’ Barcelona, ​​with Lionel Messi as the false nine, seems to be back. The players of los Azulgrana were difficult to play in the Camp Nou because of their continuous running actions and the variation in the attack game and Frenkie de Jong also seems to flourish in the system of his fellow countryman. The newspapers in Spain were impressed by the way the Dutchman played for the defense, while Sergio Busquets did not score any points.

Sport largely only handed out ample passes and rewarded the achievements of Ansu Fati, who scored twice in the first 35 minutes of the home game and scored a penalty, even with a ten. Of all the basic powers, only Antoine Griezmann (five) and Sergio Busquets (six) were out of place; De Jong received an eight rating and his match was summarized as ‘creative’ by the best-selling sports newspaper in Spain. “De Jong stood out with a few good actions, although he was sometimes a bit too invisible. Once he has the ball, however, it is a delightful sight. De Jong reads the game like no other and is a very necessary football player for this team. ”

Bee Marca De Jong was mainly seen ‘enjoying’ in his first official club match under Koeman. “De Jong was always looking for ways to pass the ball and with the right choices he provided more depth in the team”, the sports newspaper from Madrid analyzes. “He looked comfortable in this system. He offered himself, he intervened and he enjoyed it. ” That is according to Marca also to Koeman’s merit. “The trainer has succeeded in getting the players to master the new system. De Jong is perhaps the most perfect example. But also that the players feel at ease in the 4-2-3-1 system. For example, because they have more freedom or because they play their position. Koeman has started very well. An indisputable victory. ”

Also ElDesmarque saw how De Jong played with more self-confidence and gave the Dutchman a seven. “De Jong he knew that under Koeman would be one of the leaders and he did not renounce. He did what was expected of him and was very complementary to his ally in the 4-2-3-1 system. Both offensive and defensive. ” That ally, Sergio Busquets, also gets from ElDesmarque just like Griezmann, it does have the lowest mark: a five. “Busquets got lost. He was inaccurate in the opening phase, seemed questionable both offensively and defensively, but he was lucky that this game didn’t demand much from him. ”

Also Mundo Deportivo had reservations about Busquets. “He was surprisingly very inaccurate in the first half passing, although he reached a higher level after the break. He was tactically important as soon as pressure had to be put by Barcelona. ” About De Jong: “Unlike Busquets, he played a formidable first half. He determined when the pace needed to be increased and when the team needed to slow down. In the second half he suffered more loss of possession. ”

In front of ASH it is abundantly clear: De Jong está en su salsa, or De Jong feels at ease, like a fish in water. In the build-up, De Jong came to the left or right of Gerard Piqué and Clément Lengtlet and Busquets took the position for it. As soon as Jordi Alba got next to the central defenders in the build-up, the Dutchman could play further forward. “Koeman is the fuse in a powder keg for De Jong. He played a very complete game. In this system with two inspectors, De Jong has more freedom and confidence to play a leading role. The handling of the ball and the vision of the Dutchman can give the supporters, who yearn for success, a lot of fun this season. ”

The sports newspaper from Madrid, like all other newspapers, was not impressed by Busquets. “In any case, he went from less to more. His opening phase was simply a major catastrophe. He even sent a wrong pass five times in a row without even being pressured. The uncertainty that Busquets radiated was disturbing, ”acknowledged ASH. “In the second half he looked somewhat like the Busquets we know and he came across more confident, both in his passing and in his team contribution.”

In imitation of Sport and ElDesmarque also shared El Periódico a ten off to Fati. The Catalan newspaper was not very generous with high marks and distributed four sixes among the basic forces, the figure of De Jong and Busquets. Journalist Joan Domènech still has his reservations about the two. “Fati, Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho played with Villarreal, but it was especially Lenglet who tore apart the opponent with his formidable passes and delivered the ball to the attackers. Midfield was limited to Busquets – De Jong. That could be a problem for Koeman unless he lets the pieces fall into place sooner rather than later. ”