"I have to prove that I deserve to play"

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who on Sunday returned to the starting lineup and scored the first of the 'Cules' seven goals against Valencia (7-1), has said that he feels “100%” ready and has set himself the challenge of “proving” that he has to play.

“I feel good already. After the break I'm 100% ready. I have to prove that I deserve to play,” said the Dutch player in statements to ‘DAZN’ from the mixed zone of the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys.

De Jong stressed that Barcelona needed such a victory in the championship: “In La Liga we have had a bad run. We are happy to win well and I hope we can continue like this.”

“In La Liga we have dropped a lot of points in the last few games. I'm happy to get back to winning ways in the competition. Hopefully we can continue like this and win many games in a row to be closer to those at the top,” he added.

Asked if Barcelona has options to compete for the league title, the Dutchman replied that “yes we can”.

 

January 27, 2025