De Jong must fight for Barcelona spot, says Flick ahead of Las Palmas clash

Hansi Flick has challenged Frenkie de Jong to earn his spot in the Barcelona line-up as the Blaugrana prepare to face Las Palmas in LaLiga on Saturday.

The 27-year-old midfielder was sidelined for several months this year due to a persistent ankle injury before returning to action in October.

De Jong has featured from the bench on four occasions in the Spanish top-flight since and was withdrawn at half-time in a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break in his only start this term.

The Netherlands international was also booed during Barca's 3-0 win against Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"He must deal with this situation. He must regain his confidence," Flick said.

"We look at every game to win. We want to play with the best team and based on that we make the eleven.

"He will be back, but it takes time. For me he was injured and now he is progressing well, and personally, three or four weeks ago, when he started playing, he had a different mentality.

"Now he's back after the international break and we support him, but we have a lot of midfielders. Those who are at 100% will play. He has to show the level. He is progressing, we follow him and we support him."

De Jong made 20 appearances and scored two goals for the club during the 2023-24 LaLiga season, despite ankle issues hampering his campaign on multiple occasions.

Leaders Barcelona are winless in two matches in LaLiga, having also settled for a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo last week, but enjoy a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.

HANSI FLICK: "Lamine Yamal is back and he's ready to play. We haven't decided yet if he'll start, but he will play." #BarçaLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/nh048GMo6f

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 29, 2024

It is a marked difference in results for Flick's side, who had won 15 of their previous 16 league matches prior to their defeat to Sociedad.

Making it more challenging for Barca is a run of five games in 19 days, when they will play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga.

"I think I speak for the whole team when I say that the best thing today is to win Saturday's game," the Barcelona boss said.

"We don't care what happens next Tuesday or in Dortmund. What concerns us and occupies us is the game against Las Palmas. We want to build on what we saw against Brest.

"We want to show this, also to the fans. The best players will play, and those who are the best."

Flick will be boosted by the return of Lamine Yamal, who has missed their last three matches.

Barca have not won a single LaLiga game without the 17-year-old in the starting 11. They won 11 games with him starting and lost twice and drew once in matches where he did not start.

"He's back, he's ready to play. I don't know if he will start. But he will play," Flick said.

"I hope the team is well prepared. It showed in the session. Some players are coming back. We are in a good situation."