We can only congratulate Barcelona on their 125th anniversary and note that the Spanish giant is in better shape now than in many years.
Barcelona was founded on November 29, 1899. – They have 26 La Liga championships, 31 victories in the Spanish Cup, 13 victories in the Spanish Super Cup, five victories in the UEFA Champions League, five victories in the UEFA Super Cup, four victories in the Cup Winners’ Cup and three victories in the Club World Cup.
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The club’s most expensive player Frenkie de Jong is struggling to get back to form after being injured, ‘That’s why he has fewer
minutes’Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has defended Frenkie de Jong from a torrent of criticism, stating that he needs time to get back to his best. But he also admitted that the Dutchman is not part of their best team in the process.
He was asked if there was improvement, and Flick was clear that De Jong had to prove that he was up to his demands to get more minutes.
“He’s coming back from a long injury, he’s doing well, he’s recovering well. He came back 3 or 4 weeks ago. It was before the break, he is back, we help him and in midfield we have very good players. When we can give him minutes, we do it. In training, you have to show that you are 100% physical.”
It was asked how long it will take for de Jong to return to his best. Increasingly, it looks difficult for him to have a place in the starting eleven.
“He’s gone through a long injury, he got a real beating. In one-on-one, he took it. And this must be managed. Now he has to get his confidence back, and I know it’s very important for him to get minutes. Now we analyze every game, and what’s important is to win. And I want to have the best possible team tomorrow, and that’s how we make decisions. And this is why he may not have as many minutes as he would like, or we would like.”
Some Barcelona fans also praised de Jong when he came on for Pedri late on against Brest.
“I’m clear about that, I like that the fans support all the players. The fans are amazing, by the way. We have a very good connection between the fans and the players. When the footballers give it their all, the fans see it. The perfect scenario for me would be for all the players to get support from the fans.”
Barcelona had originally planned to return to the renovated Camp Nou to celebrate their birthday for today’s game, but it will be at the reverse arena Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Just yesterday, Flick had the following to say:
“I have no information about when it will be possible to return, I focus on training the team and preparing for all the games. This is like building a house, the builders don’t tell you an exact date. Sometimes the works can be delayed for months. I don’t pay much attention to this, when the club tells us we can come back, we come back.
It’s Barcelona’s 125th anniversary yesterday, and Flick explained that he is happy with life at the club.
“I think this is a fantastic club. Incredible. Since I arrived, I’ve said it, and I’ve been very impressed. I really like that we work with a lot of freedom, we do everything we need. It’s a very positive scenario. Also when I walk through the streets of Barcelona, the treatment and the way he talks to me is very kind. With reference to me, to my team. It is a great pleasure to work for this club. It’s ‘more than a club’, I can confirm that.”
The work on the modernization and expansion of Camp Nou has gone slower than planned.
