That Frenkie de Jong is indisputable in the Barça of Koeman they say it their numbers. It is the footballer that more minutes has played of the azulgrana squad (3,610 'in 41 games), even ahead of Messi (3,252 '); and that the Zaandam technician has tried give him some rest so far this season. De Jong is the player who more passes has given in the league. With 2,129, he is ahead of Pedri (2,000), Busquets (1,880) or Kroos (1,895).
But is that Koeman, In addition, he has found a added value to De Jong. After 1-4 against PSG and from 1-1 against Cádiz, the Barça coach began to spin his head. Against him Elche (3-0), Barça was not good either. Something had to be done, and it occurred to Koeman to give courage to the lanes with the 3-4-1-2. In that new system, De Jong started playing on the midfield line. The three centrals were always pure (Piqué, Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti and even Araújo played in that position when he recovered). But Koeman took another step. It was in Paris. To fit Griezmann into the starting eleven, he dispensed with one of the pure centrals and placed De Jong as Libero. The experiment, despite the fact that the Dutchman sometimes suffers in defense due to his lack of forcefulness, It has worked. And, in addition, it has a value added.
The De Jong's presence let Koeman can move pieces at any time for go to 4-3-3: retard to the flanks, overtake the indoor position to De Jong to play with Pedri and put three tips. Two more open and a nine. De Jong is working as a libero, but the change has a bittersweet flavor. When Koeman went from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, De Jong played his best games as a Barça footballer. He advanced his position and became a lethal player, who has already scored six goals, tripling his figures from last season and even bettering Ajax's De Jong. De Jong was spectacular in the matches of Cup against Rayo and Granada, and in LaLiga and the Super Cup against Real Sociedad. Koeman had been the one who had invented a new player with arrival and the one who now puts the belt on him so that he plays later. Pros and cons but, in any case, the added value of a multipurpose player that allows Koeman work with two systems. Now we have to see if the gasoline can hold up to De Jong. Between his club (3,610 ') and the Netherlands (765'), he is already riding this season at 4,375 '. And the Eurocup remains …