Speaking ahead of tonight’s match-up with former club Bayern Munich at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona boss Hansi Flick told journalists just why Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong didn’t feature at the weekend.
De Jong was supposed to be in the starting line-up for the Blaugrana on Sunday in La Liga action, and was preparing for his return as a first-team player, but did not feel fully fit.
The 27-year-old former Willem II and Ajax starlet was named on the bench and did not come on as a substitute. Flick explained why at the press conference in the run-up to the Champions League match against Bayern Munich:
“It was our plan for him to start against Sevilla on Sunday. But he didn’t feel completely well.”
De Jong has been out for five months with an injury to his right ankle. While it is expected that the man with 54 Oranje caps is expected in some way to feature against Bayern, Flick didn’t confirm whether De Jong would be a starter or a substitute:
“Except for Eric Garcia (injured in the warm-up against Sevilla) everyone is ready. I am happy that they are all available.”
