Xavi confirms Frenkie’s return to Barça squad for Valencia clash
The Dutchman is back after a quick bout with a fever
Barcelona will have their best and most important midfielder available for selection for Saturday’s crucial La Liga clash against Valencia as manager Xavi Hernández confirmed that Frenkie de Jong is back to full fitness and has been included in the squad for the trip to Mestalla.
The Dutchman missed Wednesday’s embarrassing Champions League loss away to Royal Antwerp with a fever but returned to training the very next day, and is fully fit to return to the starting lineup in what feels like the biggest match in Barça’s season so far.
The Blaugrana struggled mightily in midfield without De Jong, with Oriol Romeu directly at fault for two of Antwerp’s three goals playing in Frenkie’s position. The Catalans had issues creating any kind of passing flow and had a lot of trouble building from the back, and De Jong’s return should bring some much-needed stability to those areas of Barça’s attacking play.
Xavi will hope Frenkie and the rest of the team can help alleviate some of the massive pressure the coach is currently facing, with questions about his job status getting louder and louder after two tough losses against Girona and Antwerp.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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