Barcelona relieved as captain’s half-time withdrawal was merely precautionary with no major concern | OneFootball

Barcelona’s triumph over Osasuna at Montjuic brought plenty of joy but also a few concerns. Chief among them was the early substitution of Dani Olmo, who left the pitch in the first half due to a muscle issue.

However, Frenkie de Jong’s situation stirred further worry when he was taken off at half-time by Hansi Flick, who replaced him with Pablo Torre.

Initial concerns over the Dutchman’s withdrawal were put to rest after Helena Condis clarified that De Jong’s substitution was merely a precautionary measure due to overload rather than any serious injury.

Flick, aware of the demanding fixture list and the toll it takes on his squad, opted to play it safe with De Jong to prevent a potential setback that could rule him out for crucial upcoming matches.

Protecting players

The debate surrounding fixture congestion and the limited rest players receive has only intensified recently.

With Barcelona eyeing success across various competitions, losing a player of De Jong’s calibre for a lengthy period would be a blow Flick can hardly afford.

Frenkie de Jong was taken off at half-time. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The midfielder’s performances have been instrumental, as shown against Osasuna, where he played a significant role in Barcelona’s opening goal through his link-up play with Ferran Torres and Balde.

De Jong appears to be approaching his peak form, which only adds to the urgency of managing his minutes wisely.

Flick trusts De Jong

Flick’s trust in him remains complete, evident from his comments following the Osasuna match where he confirmed De Jong is very much in his plans for the upcoming clash against Girona.

Still, the German manager may opt to handle De Jong’s involvement cautiously to minimise the risk of a more severe injury. As Barcelona’s midfield orchestrator, his fitness could be crucial to the team’s ambitions this season.

How Flick manages De Jong’s workload in the coming weeks could play a significant role in ensuring the player remains available for the final stretch of the campaign.