Ronald Koeman remains uncertain if Barcelona midfielder can even play a full game | OneFootball

Injuries are often a hindrance for clubs like FC Barcelona, but they have a much bigger impact on the players themselves. Suffering any kind of injury can be hard for an athlete, but even more so when they are competing at the highest possible level for consistency. Nothing is ever guaranteed in football, and especially not at Barcelona.

That is why caution and care is always a must when dealing with any sort of injury or ailment. Unfortunately, either due to one circumstance or another, some players are unable to undergo the right kind of precaution and care that is required for their particular injury.

In Frenkie de Jong’s case, that is exactly the kind of blame that Netherlands head coach and former Barcelona manager, Ronald Koeman, has hurled towards the Catalan club previously. However, it seems that he still has his worries about De Jong’s physical condition moving forward.

As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the Dutch coach has made it clear that he will not be starting Frenkie de Jong in either of the two games during this international break, and that the player’s physical condition leaves him doubtful about his ability to even play a full game:

“I don’t even know if he can play ninety minutes in a match.”

However, Koeman still maintains faith in the player’s abilities and says that the Barcelona midfielder could still be a game-changing player thanks to his versatility and complete profile:

“Frenkie discussed it with his coach, Hansi Flick, in Barcelona, and I’ve also spoken to Frenkie about it. He’s still a player who can make a difference with his style of play because he’s such a complete midfielder, but we’ll have to see how quickly he can return to his best form. First, we’ll play Saturday, and then we’ll assess.”

For now, the Dutch National team will first face off against Hungary in their upcoming UEFA Nations League game. Having been called up for these matches, Frenkie de Jong will likely start the game from the bench and it remains to be seen if the Barcelona captain ends up getting too many minutes after all.