Despite starting their league campaign with only a draw against Getafe, FC Barcelona have won all the ensuing matches played up to now. However, for various reasons, the team has yet to hit top gear in its competitive matches.
The FC Barcelona team for this season has a number of new faces, and they would need to gel with their teammates before the team starts performing at its optimal level. Still, some of the players in the squad are already performing at a very high level.
Frenkie de Jong; the best in Europe
One such player is the midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder is currently in his fifth year at the Catalan club and has additional responsibilities this season as he has been selected as one of the team’s captains.
With this added responsibility, De Jong’s performances on the pitch are also improving. This is clear according to the data compiled by WhoScored, which shows that De Jong has made more successful final passes than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
The Dutchman currently has 130 successful final third passes to his name, with only four games having been played. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Xavi’s utilization of Frenkie this season is resulting in better performances for both Frenkie himself and the overall team as well.
Xavi hitting an effective midfield formula
These final passes by Frenkie have also been highly decisive. It has usually been De Jong who unlocks defenses, usually with a ball over the top, which allows the team to score and gain an advantage over their rivals. This phenomenon was seen in both the last matches against Villarreal and Osasuna.
The presence of Oriol Romeu in the midfield could also be one of the factors that provide Frenkie more freedom from defensive duties and allow him to contribute more to the attack of the team.
Anyway, Xavi has a highly competent midfielder in his hands, and how Xavi uses De Jong in the months coming up ahead will be crucial in determining the success that Barcelona enjoys this season.