Frenkie de Jong, a Barcelona player in great form, spoke with the press today, as a preview of tomorrow’s to El Clásico, and talked about his time at Barça, his different positions on the pitch, the challenges of the current season and much more.
After having been at Barcelona for almost two seasons now, Frenkie de Jong has really begun to live up to his potencial. Having amazing performances at a very solid midfield, under his fellow Dutch manager Ronald Koeman. However, as the season looms to an end, the Blaugranas face some of their biggest challenges yet.
This is Frenkie had to say:
On El Clásico
“It is important to win the match. Doing so would bring us closer to our objective, but I don’t see it as a decisive match either. If we lose or win, it does not mean that we have lost or won LaLiga. We know that the title is in our grasp. If we win all the games, we will surely be champions. Pressure? There is always pressure in El Clásico. It will not be different from the other Clásicos. We want to win it.”
Regarding the good form of the team
“Since the beginning of the season we have had to adapt to the system and the new teammates. There was no preseason and now we are more in touch with each other and we are at high moment of confidence.”
On his future at Barcelona
“Since I was a child I have wanted to play for Barça. It is the place where I have always wanted to be. Now I hope I can stay here for a very long time. Barça always stays true to a style. I like that this is the case and I hope to continue being part of the club for many years. It is difficult to compare myself with some historical player of the FC Barcelona. I’d rather write my own story and make my way.”
Regarding his position on the pitch
“I will play in the position where the team and the coach need me the most. I have always said that I prefer to play in the midfield, but if I have to play in any other position, I will. Play where I play, my training routine does not change. Right now I don’t see myself playing central defense for the rest of my career.”
On Messi
“He is the best player in history, the best I have ever seen. Makes it all easy. In each game he continues to show that he is the best.”
“An idol of mine? Well surely Messi, he was already the best when I was 12 years old.”
Regarding the new faces in the first team
“It is important that we have all these young players progressing and improving. They carry the Club’s DNA in their blood.”
His objectives for the remainder of the season
“My objectives? With Barça we want to win the League and the Copa del Rey. It’s a shame but we are no longer competing for the Champions League. And with the Dutch national team we will compete to win the Euro in the summer.”
