Barcelona midfielder de Jong shared his insights on the team, the game and his role in a recent interview.
Speaking about the current situation of the team, de Jong said: “Although we have won the Spanish Super Cup, it is too early to talk about the treble. After all, it’s only March and we have a lot of work to do.”
Looking back on the 4-4 draw with Atletico, de Jong said: “It was crazy. We couldn’t control the situation better when we were 4-2 up. The upcoming game against Atletico is bound to be difficult, but hopefully this time we can have the last laugh,”
On individual performance, de Jong has a clear understanding: “I don’t use goals to measure my value. If I can break down defenses, create space, pass forward, control the tempo and help my team win, then I know I’m doing well. Right now, people tend to focus too much on the data and not enough on the game itself. Statistics are important, but they are by no means the only way to judge a player.” De Jong further pointed out: “Modern football relies too much on data and statistics, which do not fully reflect the real situation of the game. Sometimes a player can underperform and still score, and sometimes a player can underperform and get nothing.”
Speaking about his role, de Jong said: “I can score goals, I can assist, but at the moment I play as a six. Although I have a wide range of activities, I am the most defensive player in Barcelona’s midfield. So you can’t expect me to score 10 goals every season. I am the defender of Barcelona’s midfield and my job is to ensure the stability of the team.”
