‘I really like the style’… €60m Barcelona midfielder gives his verdict on Hansi Flick’s methods

Barcelona's Dutch midfielder #21 Frenkie de Jong attends a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match between Napoli and Barcelona at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium on February 20, 2024.

Photo by CARLO HERMANN/AFP via Getty Images

Tonight’s El Clasico is going to be one of the most important games in this La Liga 2024-25 season, as it not only pits two historical rivals against one another but also because Barcelona and Real Madrid are main contenders for the league title and they go into this match separated by only three points on the table.

Thus, all the players involved in this game will be looking to do their best, but this match will be even more special for some other players. This could be the case for the Dutch midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, as he can start a game for the first time this season, after having recovered from a serious ankle injury.

Hansi Flick will have to make a decision whether to change the midfield setup that performed so well against Bayern Munich to make space for Frenkie de Jong.

Still, the Dutch midfielder was very motivated to play in this upcoming game, and he clearly expressed it as he spoke to the media ahead of this game. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Frenkie highlighted why this match will be so important:

“It’s very important! It’s a Clásico, it will be a historic match, the greatest rivalry in football. Now it will also decide who will be first in La Liga.”

Frenkie also gave his honest verdict on Hansi Flick’s methods and the playing style he has implemented at Barcelona: “I don’t know if he’s changed, but he’s doing quite well. I really like the style, and I enjoy the training sessions. I think he gives us a lot of confidence. We’re playing well and getting good results.”

The former Ajax player also expressed his happiness with the convincing victory that his team got over Bayern Munich: “Very good, of course. It was a great victory against a great club, so we’re happy. It was a test for us because it was against one of the best teams in Europe, and that gives us confidence.”

There is no doubt that the win against Bayern allows Barcelona to come into this El Clasico with their confidence brimming. Hopefully, the Blaugranes will be able to keep up the momentum they have generated since the start of the season to get another victory against a direct league contender tonight.