Flick challenges De Jong to fight for his place
Hansi Flick has challenged Frenkie de Jong to earn his spot in the Barcelona line-up as the Blaugrana prepares to face Las Palmas in LaLiga this weekend.
The 27-year-old midfielder was sidelined for several months this year because of a persistent ankle injury before returning to action in October.
De Jong has featured from the bench on four occasions in the Spanish top-flight since and was withdrawn at half-time in a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break in his only start this term.
The Netherlands international was also booed during Barca's 3-0 win against Brest in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
"He must deal with this situation. He must regain his confidence," Flick said.
"We look at every game to win. We want to play with the best team and based on that we make the eleven.
"He will be back, but it takes time. For me he was injured and now he is progressing well, and personally, three or four weeks ago, when he started playing, he had a different mentality.
"Now he's back after the international break and we support him, but we have a lot of midfielders. Those who are at 100% will play. He has to show the level. He is progressing, we follow him and we support him."
De Jong made 20 appearances and scored two goals for the club during the 2023-2024 LaLiga season, despite ankle issues hampering his campaign on multiple occasions.
Leader Barcelona is winless in two matches in LaLiga, having bloqw a lead to draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo last week, but enjoys a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, which has a game in hand.
It is a marked difference in results for Flick's side, which had won 15 of its previous 16 league matches prior to defeat to Sociedad.
Making it more challenging for Barca is a run of five games in 19 days, when it will play Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga.
"I think I speak for the whole team when I say that the best thing today is to win Saturday's [Sunday AEDT] game," the Barcelona boss said.
"We don't care what happens next Tuesday or in Dortmund. What concerns us and occupies us is the game against Las Palmas. We want to build on what we saw against Brest.
"We want to show this, also to the fans. The best players will play, and those who are the best."
Flick will be boosted by the return of Lamine Yamal, who has missed the past three matches.
Barca has not won a single LaLiga game without the 17-year-old in the starting XI. It won 11 games with him starting and lost twice and drew once in matches where he did not start.
"He's back, he's ready to play. I don't know if he will start. But he will play," Flick said.
"I hope the team is well prepared. It showed in the session. Some players are coming back. We are in a good situation."
