24-year-old Barcelona star leapfrogs Frenkie de Jong in defensive midfield hierarchy – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona faced Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League at the Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday night. In a middling game for attacking quality, Hansi Flick’s men secured a 2–1 win, thanks to a brace from Jules Koundé.

One surprise in the starting XI was Frenkie de Jong’s continued absence. Many expected him to return against the German club, but Flick chose to persist with Eric Garcia ahead of the Dutchman.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the ultimate Swiss-knife has leapfrogged Frenkie as the starting defensive midfielder for Flick. The German manager prefers to use Eric Garcia in a double pivot alongside Pedri.

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Eric, for his part, did not put a foot wrong. He was close to flawless in his work, and when Flick brought Frenkie on in the second half, it was not at the expense of the 24-year-old Spaniard.

It has reached a stage where, irrespective of where Flick starts Eric, he delivers a resounding performance. He has emerged as a leader in this team, and the tendency is to find a way to start him in almost every game.

That said, it does not feel as though Eric has displaced Frenkie from the XI. The Dutchman is one of Barcelona’s most important players and is likely to regain his place, with the Spaniard moving back to defence.

It seems more a case of Flick being cautious with Frenkie, given his recent illnesses. A little rest could do him good. Do not be surprised to see the Barcelona captain start this weekend against Osasuna.