The performance of Frenkie de Jong in the Champions League match against Benfica (3-0) can count on little sympathy from Valentijn Driessen. The chief of football of The Telegraph writes in his column that it is time for someone to tell De Jong the truth. According to Driessen, what the Barcelona midfielder is showing is too ‘superficial’ and ‘non-committal’. “With his performance in Lisbon, De Jong helped to put the head of his trainer Ronald Koeman further on the chopping block of chairman Joan Laporta,” said Driessen.
De Jong returned to the starting line-up against Benfica, after he had to miss Levante due to a suspension. The midfielder thought he could provide a certain assist, but saw how Luuk de Jong failed for an open goal. “Meeting Benfica was typical for Frenkie de Jong,” Driessen writes. ” His choices were understandable if it is only a goal when the ball is dribbled over the goal line. Because this is not the case, De Jong made the wrong choice twice. He put a ball wide that he could shoot himself and he headed wide once which he could complete himself.”
According to Driessen, Frenkie De Jong was guilty both offensively and defensively for the painful defeat in Lisbon. “With his safe choices of not attempting a goal himself, he walked away from his responsibility as one of the supporting and leading players,” said the football chief. “It is all much too informal what De Jong does. In fact, he is parasitic on his class. He puts his hands together for one or two fun, but not decisive moments in a match, or with a nice pirouette. As a team player and booster, he too little. De Jong is bumping along where he has to take the faltering FC Barcelona by the hand at this stage of his career.”
Driessen believes that development as a person stagnates at Frenkie de Jong. “This is also noticeable if he is asked something about football content during media appearances,” Driessen confirms. “He excels in superficiality. It doesn’t matter where he plays, who he plays with or what system FC Barcelona or the Dutch play. Great football personalities are distinguished by their great involvement and assert themselves in the interest of the team. the field and beyond. Who in his environment is going to tell him this truth instead of pleasing him?”
Finally, Koeman also gets a kick out of it. “He committed sacrilege by falling back on a 5-3-2 system and letting go of the 4-3-3 system, with which he seemed to turn around on Sunday against Levante – without Frenkie de Jong. Or Koeman will survive the weekend visiting Atlético Madrid, remains to be seen. A failing Dutch delegation with De Jong & De Jong has not helped the trainer so far. In difficult times, the real men stand up. See if Frenkie de Jong is still able to do this . Or is willing.”
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