Koeman says De Jong can withstand Barcelona scrutiny as Champions League hurdles loom

Ronald Koeman says Frenkie de Jong has the mental strength to cope with the pressure and criticism he faces at Barcelona.

The former Barcelona manager was speaking at a charity golf tournament at Barcelona Golf Club in Sant Esteve Sesrovires. The event recreated the club rivalry between Barcelona and Espanyol on the golf course, with Koeman captaining Barcelona and Juan Capdevila leading Espanyol.

De Jong remains a regular subject of debate at Barcelona, both because of his performances and because Hans Flick recently surprised many by using him at right-back for part of the match against Atletico de Madrid.

Koeman said he was not surprised that the Netherlands midfielder performed well in the position.

“He knows how to play at right-back and also as a centre-back, because he played in those positions with me,” Koeman said. “He is capable of playing in several different positions.”

The former Netherlands manager also defended De Jong’s ability and expressed regret that injuries had disrupted the player’s progress in recent years.

“He is a great player,” Koeman said. “He has suffered injuries over the past two years and it is always difficult to return after that. The same thing happened to him at the European Championship and at the World Cup.”

Koeman believes De Jong is equipped to deal with the expectations that come with playing for Barcelona.

“He is extremely strong mentally,” he said. “He understands the level of pressure at Barcelona and I do not see any problem. He has always said that he wants to play for Barcelona, and that is what he is doing now.”

Koeman also assessed Barcelona’s prospects in the race for major honours under Flick. He considers the club the leading contender for the Spanish league title, but was more cautious about their chances in the Champions League.

“They are one of the main candidates to win, but there are other strong teams too,” Koeman said. “When we reach the knockout matches in the Champions League, difficult moments always appear.”

The Dutchman also ended his comments by praising the work being done by Xavi Hernandez with the Netherlands national team.