Xavi Hails Frenkie de Jong as Fundamental Despite Draw; Dutch Midfielder Critical of His Own Performance

Following Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano, coach Xavi expressed his admiration for Frenkie de Jong, describing the Dutch midfielder as a fundamental player for the club. Despite the disappointing result, Xavi acknowledged De Jong’s influence in orchestrating the team’s ball circulation during the match, emphasizing the positive impact of the midfielder’s presence.

“Frenkie de Jong’s lack of match action showed, but he looked good,” Xavi remarked in his post-match comments. “He’s a fundamental player for us. We were getting the ball into play very nicely today, and that was largely thanks to him.”

De Jong, who made his return from a two-month injury layoff, was critical of his own performance, stating, “I was not good today. I didn’t feel good.” Despite his self-assessment, there is optimism that the Dutchman will regain his best form with more game time.

Looking ahead, De Jong is expected to feature prominently in Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League clash against FC Porto, providing an opportunity for him to build on his return and contribute to the team’s success in the crucial fixture.