Hansi Flick has requested the Barcelona supporters to stop jeering and booing the out-of-favour Frenkie de Jong.
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Flick backs De Jong in publicDutch midfielder going through a tough timeHas been linked with an exit next summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has requested the Barcelona faithful to show complete support to Frenkie de Jong and spurred the fans to stop whistling the player whenever he steps on to the pitch in Blaugrana colours. De Jong has been battling to reach full fitness amid his ongoing recovery from the ankle injury he suffered in April earlier this year.
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When Flick arrived as the new Barcelona coach in the summer, De Jong was out on the sidelines as he was recovering from an ankle injury he suffered against Real Madrid in April last season. Since coming back from the injury, the 27-year-old has made nine appearances in all competitions, which includes just two starts: one in the Champions League and one in LaLiga. Ahead of Barca's clash against Brest earlier this week, Flick acknowledged that the Dutch international had not reached 100 per cent yet.
After starting for Netherlands and playing 68 minutes against Hungary in their Nations League match during the international break earlier this month, De Jong was released from the squad by Ronald Koeman to allow him to get some rest.
Barcelona faced an away trip to Celta Vigo upon the conclusion of the break, and they were leading 2-0 until the 84th minute. However, the hosts sprung back to life in the dying embers of the game as they scored in the 84th and 86th minutes to level the game and prevent the LaLiga leaders from claiming all three points.
Fans criticised De Jong on social media for his lack of awareness during the play from which Celta Vigo equalised at the Balaidos. Against Brest on Tuesday, he came on in the 88th minute for Pedri and received a negative reception, with the Barca faithful whistling at the player.
WHAT HANSI FLICK SAID
"We are supporting him and in the centre we have a lot of midfielders so I have to decide if the players are 100% fit and I will go back to him when he is," Flick told reporters (h/t AS).
"The situation is that he has minutes and he is progressing. I will give him minutes, in training he must show that he is 100% physically.
"I have it clear, I like the fans to support all the players," Flick asserted. "The fans are fantastic, by the way. We have a very good connection between fans and players. When the players give their all, the fans see it. The perfect scenario, for me, would be for all the players to have the support of the fans."
Getty WHAT NEXT FOR FRENKIE DE JONG?
De Jong will be hoping to feature against Las Palmas on Saturday in an attempt to further increase his fitness levels.
