Barcelona mainstay returns to group training after missing Royal Antwerp encounter | OneFootball

As Barcelona aim to put behind the bad memories of the past few days, they welcomed an important player back to group training earlier today.

Indeed, midfield mainstay Frenkie de Jong was back training with the rest of the team after missing the game against Royal Antwerp last night due to a fever, reports SPORT.

It is certainly welcome news for Barça who will be eager to bounce back strongly after two consecutive defeats against Girona and Royal Antwerp in the past few days.

The back-to-back losses have turned up the heat on manager Xavi Hernandez and the team to step up and correct their course at the earliest possible.

And the upcoming weekend’s game against an inconsistent Valencia outfit away at the Mestalla presents a good opportunity to do that.

Having De Jong back for the game, thus, will be crucial for the reigning La Liga champions, considering how important he is to the team.

Much ado about nothing

Earlier today reports emerged claiming that De Jong had been at the receiving end of a haranguing from Barcelona sporting director Deco.

It was suggested that the former Portuguese international did not completely believe that the Dutchman missed the Royal Antwerp clash due to illness and had a go at the midfielder during a phone call.

But, soon after, those claims were shot down, with Deco’s entourage suggesting that there was a cordial chat between him and De Jong regarding his condition and nothing more.

With a couple more days left before Barcelona take on Valencia, the Netherlands ace has time to regain rhythm and be ready to start the game at the Mestalla – a match that Xavi has described as a final after back-to-back defeats.