#Wittels- Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Frenkie loses credit and Luuk establishes himself with goals Frenkie de Jong (Arkel, the Netherlands; 24 years old) left the King Fahad International Stadium with his head down and dragging his feet, despondent because he does not uncork his football, a useful player to get out of messes on his field and to put into practice the defense to the man because he has plenty physically, but sterile in the forward positions and anonymous in the rival area. Deficiencies that call into question his everlasting ownership and a whole reverse curve to what happens to him with Luuk de Jong (Aigle, Switzerland; 31 years old), a striker did not count for the coach or the sports area, to the point that accommodation was sought for him and he almost did not go to Cádiz, now a player assembled in the eleven for his merits and goals. The upside down life. On the horn and as a gift to Koeman, Luuk de Jong arrived at Barça in the last days of the summer market, the sports area resigned because the money was not enough for more. “He contributed something different, but there were doubts that he would win a place. Although he understood his role from the beginning because he is very intelligent, ”explains a club worker, aware that they were taking over a substitute from Sevilla. And his first months were horrible because he played little and badly, out of step with Barça football, always with a crooked peephole as evidence against Dinamo or Benfica, also Cádiz, Granada, Osasuna and Rayo. He even lost the confidence of the coach, who put the young Jutglà before him. But when he seemed sentenced, the goal was enlarged. He has 25 shots and 10 of them between the sticks (0.67%) -only behind the records of Memphis (1.13%) and Ansu (0.89%)-, with three career goals in the last duels (Majorca, Granada and Madrid). “How am I going to get him out?” Xavi questioned after losing in the Super Cup; "If he continues to perform like this, scoring, he will continue playing." Morrocotuda surprise that of the striker, who has become a support point when nobody had him, a figure that complements the team because the attacks look for the amplitude and the extremes to supply him with aerial balls. That's how Ancelotti saw it: "Barcelona has caused us problems with the centers, something they don't usually do". Luuk had it clear since he arrived: "They signed me so that I could change the tactics". An understanding that, however, is diluted with Frenkie. When Xavi was asked about Memphis before Madrid, he pointed out: "Those who earn it will play and will have more merit." And sat down the attacker. It remains to be seen if the same happens with Frenkie, fourth with the most minutes on the course (1,901), a slipstream from Memphis (1,946), Ter Stegen (2,280) and Busquets (2,372). The competition is overwhelming in the axis because the ownership of Busquets is discounted, in addition to the settlement of Gavi and the strength of Nico, until now punished by regulations because LaLiga requires always having seven first team players on the pitch and otherwise could incur misalignment. It also happens that Pedri, who has been asked by Xavi to channel the offensives, is already added to the equation. Task in which De Jong gets involved, third in the number of passes made in the opposite field (789), behind Busquets (1,254) and Alba (936), but with only two assists. Less than Alba (6), Gavi and Dest (3), and on par with Nico, Mingueza, Memphis and Dembélé. But Xavi demands that the media connect with the forwards in advantageous positions. “That is the Frenkie we want”, he praised him after Villarreal. Although after Osasuna he criticized him. "He, like the other players, has to learn to see the moment to break into space or keep possession." Even the fans whistled at him for the first time in three courses, after they replaced him against Elche and it was confirmed that he is far from being the player who amazed at Ajax. Xavi replied saying that he is “non-transferable and that he “needs help to develop”. But Frenkie runs out of credit. The opposite of what happens to Luuk. Link: https://elpais.com/deportes/2022-01-13/la-vida-al-reves-de-los-de-jong.html
Recommended Posts