Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his delight at having midfielder Frenkie de Jong back in action after recovering from an injury, just in time for the Champions League clash against Young Boys on Tuesday. The Dutch international is set to be included in the squad to face the Swiss champions, and Flick believes he is prepared for a short appearance, having not played since April. De Jong, 27, has been sidelined due to an ankle injury since then and consequently missed the European Championship this summer.
"This is excellent news to have Frenkie back with us, even if it's just for five or ten minutes, he's crucial for our team," Flick stated during a press conference on Monday. "Frenkie's attitude has been outstanding, he's been fully engaged with the team, always ready to assist, and we've missed his presence." Flick added, "He'll be ready to play, not for 45 minutes but perhaps 20 or 10, and it will be very beneficial for him."
The Catalan giants still have several other players out due to injuries, including Gavi and Ronald Araujo, while Eric Garcia is suspended following a red card in the Champions League opener against Monaco. Barcelona suffered a defeat away to the Ligue 1 side and has faced difficulties in Europe in recent years. Last season, they reached the quarter-finals for the first time in four seasons, and the five-time champions have not won the trophy since 2015.
"We aim to win every game, both the team and I as the coach, and I'm very optimistic that we can achieve that," Flick continued. "We train hard, play entertaining football, and if we need to earn the respect of our opponents again, we'll work diligently towards that goal."
