Unique interview with Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong
The calls for at Barcelona imply that successful La Liga is not all the time sufficient to fulfill everybody. Final season, Ernesto Valverde’s facet received the Spanish title by 11 factors but it surely was a second successive Champions League humiliation for which their marketing campaign is remembered.
A Four-Zero second-leg defeat to Liverpool final season ended the membership’s Treble dream and ultimately, they did not even win the double. Rocked by occasions at Anfield, they have been unable to raise themselves for the Copa del Rey closing and suffered a shock 2-1 reverse towards Valencia. It led to requires Valverde, who had received a double the season earlier than, to be sacked. President Josep Maria Bartomeu caught with the coach, although, and as an alternative centered on rejuvenating the squad.
Frenkie de Jong — together with Antoine Griezmann, Junior Firpo and Neto — is among the many new arrivals. The fresh-faced midfielder joined the membership for €75 million on the again of a double-winning season with an Ajax facet which additionally reached the Champions League semifinals.
De Jong, the most recent Dutch participant to tread the Amsterdam-to-Barcelona path made well-known by Johan Cruyff, is already being held up because the chief for a brand new period at Camp Nou. Followers need the ball to maneuver faster once more, they need the management again and so they wish to see the gamers urgent like they did within the Pep Guardiola years.
De Jong is seen as somebody who may also help do all three.
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De Jong sat down with ESPN FC in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the course of the staff’s preseason tour to speak about leaving the Netherlands, expectations for his maiden season on the Camp Nou and what life seems to be like off the pitch when he has time to take a look at.
ESPN: You may have signed for Barca 12 months in the past however Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars satisfied you to remain at Ajax with a video. Is that true?
Frenkie de Jong: Sure. There have been six or seven of us and we did not have the very best season the 12 months earlier than. We had some doubts about whether or not we needed to keep or whether or not we should always transfer to a different membership for improvement. They confirmed us a video about what they anticipated from the season and what they have been anticipating from us to persuade us to remain, and to point out their belief in our expertise. It was good that they did that. I feel we might have stayed anyway but it surely helped, for positive. They confirmed that that they had belief in us and that felt good.
ESPN: And also you have been all in comparison with a participant from Ajax’s previous within the video?
FDJ: They have been not likely evaluating however every participant had one other participant from the previous who had received trophies on the membership and was a bit just like your place. Mine was [Tottenham’s Christian] Eriksen.
ESPN: Why was that 2017-18 season so disappointing after the joy of the Europa League closing towards Manchester United in 2017?
FDJ: I feel we all the time had lots of gifted gamers at Ajax. That is the philosophy of the membership. We had a very gifted squad but it surely was lacking one thing. I feel that 12 months we have been a bit unfortunate and everyone knows what occurred with [Abdelhak] Nouri within the preseason. All of the circumstances to be a fantastic staff have been there however there was one thing lacking.
ESPN: What modified final season?
FDJ : A little bit of every little thing. We had a very gifted squad and lots of high quality gamers. I feel the thought of how we needed to play was actually good: the imaginative and prescient, the ways. When that each one comes collectively and when you’ve gotten a little bit of luck, you may obtain nice issues. We actually had lots of enjoyable. I feel it was a particular staff, not just for the qualities and the ways, but it surely felt like we have been mates taking part in collectively and it was an incredible season.
ESPN: What have been the highlights?
FDJ: I feel the wins at [Real] Madrid and Juventus are the very best reminiscences. We turned champions for what we did over the entire season. It was wonderful and the celebrations have been wonderful, but when I needed to identify one or two video games it was Juve and Madrid away as a result of it was only a massive shock for everybody in Europe. I feel the best way we performed was wonderful, actually good. It gave individuals pleasure.
ESPN: You’ve got now joined Barca, Matthijs de Ligt is at Juventus, is there a component of disappointment that the staff’s being damaged up?
FDJ: I am actually happy with the season we had and I’m proud to see guys making massive actions. I feel all of them deserve it. However in fact I really feel a bit unhappy — not that I remorse it, as a result of I’m actually proud and completely satisfied to be right here, however it is a bit unhappy that the staff is breaking apart. However that these issues are going to occur when you’ve gotten a season like that at a membership like Ajax. It is simply the best way it’s.
Zero:59
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong says he would slightly previous teammate Donny van de Beek did not be a part of Actual Madrid – as he would not wish to face him as an opponent.
ESPN: Do you suppose that may all the time be the best way at Ajax now?
FDJ: I feel it relies upon so much on the competitors. The competitors must develop so much. The Eredivisie is, for me, a fantastic competitors to play in and it was a good time, however the Eredivisie these days can’t evaluate to La Liga, Premier League and all these competitions.
ESPN: Donny van de Beek could possibly be the following to go away, with Actual Madrid . Would you prefer to have him as a rival?
FDJ: I would favor him to remain at Ajax as a result of I would not have him as an opponent and Ajax would keep sturdy. However, no, in fact, when it is all settled, and if he strikes to Madrid, I’m actually completely satisfied for him. I feel he deserves it. He is a fantastic participant. Then I’ll go see him in Spain! I’m fairly positive he has the flexibility. I feel he confirmed it final season within the Champions League, particularly within the knockout rounds. I feel he has proven to the world and everybody in Europe he has the flexibility to play at that degree.
ESPN: How essential was coach Erik ten Hag?
FDJ: All the technical employees have been actually essential. You’ll be able to have high quality gamers, however you want good ways as properly. I feel it is one of the crucial essential issues at this time in soccer and for me, we had wonderful ways. Each sport I had the sensation: ‘OK we’ll beat them as a result of we’ll do that, this and this and we have now the standard gamers.’ So I feel a giant a part of the success was additionally the technical employees. It isn’t so simple as [saying]: ‘Exit and luxuriate in your self!’ I feel nowadays, in soccer, it is actually, actually essential that you’ve got good ways, that you understand how an opponent goes to press, what you are going to do towards it and I feel we have been ready on all these issues, so the technical employees did an incredible job final 12 months.
ESPN: The rumours about your future and De Ligt’s have been relentless at occasions. Was that onerous to cope with?
FDJ: No, for me it was not that onerous. Individuals are going to speak about it but it surely didn’t have an effect on me or my household a lot. It felt actually good to shut the deal in January, although, as a result of then all the rumours have been behind us and I may simply give attention to Ajax. Earlier than that, I may give attention to Ajax as properly, but it surely was only a good feeling to know what was coming subsequent 12 months.
ESPN: How are you settling in at Barca?
FDJ: I’m actually having fun with it thus far. The staff helps me so much with every little thing, on the sphere and off the sphere. I really feel actually good, I really feel comfy. They made me really feel at residence. The primary month has been actually good.
ESPN: You’ve got been essential of a few of your personal performances in preseason and have additionally stated there’s so much that the staff can do higher. Valverde says you’ve gotten such excessive requirements for your self as properly.
FDJ: I’ve a excessive customary for myself and for the staff as properly, however I’m not the boss of the staff so I need not say something about [how we should play]. I simply demand so much from myself and I feel that you just all the time want to have a look at the issues you may enhance as a result of in any other case you are not getting higher as a participant. I’m nonetheless younger so I want to enhance so much.
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong waves to the gang forward of his staff’s match towards Arsenal on Aug. Four. Getty Pictures
ESPN: How related are Barcelona’s and Ajax’s taking part in types?
FDJ: I feel the philosophy and the thought of the golf equipment are the identical: they wish to be dominant and have possession so much and benefit from the followers and every little thing. I feel there are usually not massive variations, however some variations in the best way of taking part in. I feel it is regular. Each membership performs otherwise, however you may evaluate them for positive as a result of the thought and the imaginative and prescient of the membership is identical. The way in which of taking part in is a bit completely different truly, however I’m taking part in with so many high quality gamers that it is simpler for me to slot in the staff.
ESPN: What are the variations?
FDJ: It is troublesome to elucidate as a result of I am not going to present away all of the issues we’re doing within the staff. It is concerning the ways and stuff. There are some slight variations.
ESPN: When are you happiest on the pitch?
FDJ: The half I’m having fun with probably the most is when we have now possession. However I feel all of elements of the sport are actually essential. In soccer these days, you may’t say we’re solely taking part in with the ball and when [the opposition] have the ball we’re not doing something. I feel all of the elements are actually essential however in the event you ask me which I am having fun with probably the most. then it is [being] on the ball. I prefer it when I’ve the ball so much, transfer it round, play possession with the staff and every little thing, assault and mixture.
ESPN: What areas of your sport are you trying to enhance?
FDJ: I feel I can enhance my long-range passing so much. I can rating extra objectives. I do not suppose it is crucial factor as a midfielder, particularly with my model of taking part in, however I can rating extra objectives. I can enhance my long-range capturing, going behind the defence, runs behind the defence.
1:16
Frenkie de Jong admits Netherlands are trending upward following their current failures to qualify for main tournaments.
ESPN: Is it true you have needed to be reined in a bit in preseason?
FDJ: I attempt to do lots of issues for myself, within the gymnasium and every little thing, however in preseason you all the time must be a bit cautious as a result of you need to acquire health. The trainers say that it is a bit harmful to do some further stuff so I simply must be affected person and await the season to begin after which I can. They’re saying in any other case you will get injured.
ESPN: Do the calls for you place on your self in soccer translate to your own home life?
FDJ: Under no circumstances! I am only a one that can loosen up at residence. If we’re consuming meals, it would not must be the very best or something. It is simply regular at residence! I identical to spending time with the individuals I really like, like my girlfriend, my household and mates.
ESPN: Are you a participant who likes to observe soccer at residence or do you attempt to disconnect?
FDJ: I’m watching lots of soccer, the large European leagues, Dutch soccer as properly. I prefer it. Soccer is a giant a part of my life and I plan to maintain on watching it.
ESPN: Away from Barcelona, is it an thrilling time to be a part of the Dutch staff following some troublesome years?
FDJ: It is actually good. I feel we have now lots of gifted gamers, some world-class gamers as properly. The longer term is trying vivid. I feel we’re have an excellent vibe now — it has been a bit adverse over the previous few years — however now it is all trying constructive and now we have now to ensure we are able to qualify for the Euros [next summer] after which we’ll see how far we are able to go in that match.
ESPN: How’s Ronald Koeman as a coach? How massive was his function in selecting to signal for Barcelona?
FDJ: I requested him for recommendation on my selection for a brand new membership. He was actually smitten by Barcelona, I need not say that! In fact, as a coach he is actually good, he offers the staff confidence, tactically he’s sturdy, I feel we’re all actually proud of him.