Frenkie de Jong Discusses Xavi’s Arrival as Netherlands Manager and Personal Injury Recovery
In a recent interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong shared insights about his conversation with club legend Xavi Hernandez before Xavi was appointed as the new manager of the Netherlands national team. De Jong spoke about the connection he shares with Xavi, having previously worked together when Xavi was in charge at Barcelona.
With their reunion approaching during the upcoming international break, De Jong expressed his enthusiasm about collaborating with his former coach in the national team setup, especially after missing the last international window due to injury.
De Jong Surprised by Xavi Appointment
De Jong told NOS that Xavi had reached out to him prior to his appointment, revealing, “He called me beforehand; it was nice to know he was considering it.” Although the Dutch midfielder experienced some surprise at the news, given that the national team had not employed a foreign coach for some time, he expressed happiness at the development.
He noted, “Since we hadn’t had a foreign coach for a long time, I was a little surprised. But I was happy,” emphasizing the potential positives from Xavi’s appointment. The midfielder acknowledged that he was familiar with Xavi’s style and philosophy, which he believes could benefit the national team.
“We worked well together in Barcelona. I know how he thinks about football, and that fits well with the national team,” De Jong added, highlighting Xavi’s intended approach of pressing and attacking while maintaining his tactical principles. He also acknowledged the need to rebuild the team, stating, “Now we have to start rebuilding, and that’s going to take time.”
De Jong Opens Up About Difficult Injury Recovery
During the same interview, De Jong discussed the challenges of recovering from his recent injury, which sidelined him for almost four months after he sustained a knee injury during the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign. He made his return to action last weekend in a match against Real Madrid.
Describing his recovery, De Jong stated, “It was a long and difficult period.” He also conveyed confidence about his healing process, contrasting it with past injuries, saying, “There was much less uncertainty about whether and when this injury would heal than, for example, with my previous ankle injury.”
The discrepancy over treatment methods created some tension between De Jong and Barcelona, as the club favored surgical intervention while the midfielder preferred a conservative approach. However, he insisted the situation was resolved amicably, stating, “Everyone knows the situation and how things unfolded, so there are no hard feelings. Of course, we discussed it during the decision-making process regarding whether or not to have the surgery.” He added, “Then the decision was made collectively, and we moved forward.”
Having resumed play against Real Madrid, De Jong may be set to start for Barcelona tonight against Alaves, potentially even in a makeshift center-back position.
