Two goals from Antoine Griezmann were decisive on Sunday in the competition match between Villarreal and Barcelona (1-2), but Frenkie de Jong also came to the fore. The Dutchman, who played as a midfielder in Ronald Koeman’s 3-5-2 system, had a good chance of appearing on the scoreboard in both the first and second half, but failed to finish. The good play of the the Dutch International in the Estadio de la Cerámica has led to many compliments from the Spanish media.
Bee Sport the highest ratings were for Antoine Griezmann (a nine) and Óscar Mingueza (an eight); for ‘the dynamic’ De Jong there was no more than a six in it. “He ran without stopping and was constantly looking for spaces on the field. He was emphatically present in the offensive way and also found his way to the goal, but twice lacked finesse in the completion ”, according to the reviews of the Catalan sports newspaper. Journalist Dídac Peyret devotes a separate article to the Dutchman, entitled: ‘De Jong shines, this is already Frenkie’s Barcelona’.
The circus of doubt! ?? Frenkie de Jong can’t get him in from very close ?? The save of goalkeeper Asenjo is very clever ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga # VillarrealBarça pic.twitter.com/wTRlckACpA
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 25, 2021
Peyret points out that De Jong has been showing for several weeks that midfield is his position. “As a central defender, he improved the build-up from behind, but he felt he could give more. It was a different De Jong, he was involved in the game, but not as emphatically present as in his best games as a midfielder. He has now shown that level in recent weeks. A football player who has moved up a gear. An elegant football player who lets the ball stick to his foot. A football player with an astonishing physique ”, the journalist sums up Sport on.
“Barcelona plays the last matches at the pace of De Jong. His match against Villarreal was barbaric. A match of a modern midfielder. Such a footballer who is actually several footballers in one. Such a footballer who can do a lot. Such a footballer that you cannot pigeonhole because he can play in different positions and because he can do many different things. He showed his most offensive qualities against Villarreal. Qualities that stretch the team. Qualities that support the attackers and ensure that he is constantly close to a goal. His game deserved a goal that didn’t fall. But that was also not necessary to show that this Barcelona is increasingly the Barcelona of De Jong. Anyone who talks about the future of this team can no longer ignore De Jong. ”
Less praise for De Jong at ASH. “De Jong will still wonder how he left the stadium without at least one goal. He had two big chances ”, the Madrid sports newspaper referred to the moments in which Sergio Asenjo made the save in the first half and a pin over the goalkeeper did not result in the 1-3 just before time. Also Mundo Deportivo pointed out the mistakes of the Dutchman. “He destroyed two big chances. Those misses you remember when the story ends badly. That was his shortcoming, although it was also his strength that he was there at the time. ”
Another great opportunity for Frenkie de Jong and again – he is not in it ?? He’s just lifting it off the target! ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga # VillarrealBarça pic.twitter.com/3w0VgZs4Xs
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 25, 2021
Bee El Desmarque are the highest ratings for Griezmann and De Jong. Both receive an eight. “Can’t be described in words. The Dutchman’s first half was, probably, one of his best in the Spanish elite: offensive, supportive, sacrifice, build and intelligence. With De Jong in midfield, everyone is better. Super-Futbolista. “