Xavi defends De Jong’s value
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernández has issued a strong defense of Frenkie de Jong, labeling the midfielder a “top” player who lacks the recognition he deserves, according to reports from Diario AS and SPORT.
The Barcelona midfielder has returned to the Dutch national team squad for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and Germany. This recall follows a period of recovery from a serious knee injury sustained during the 2026 World Cup, OkDiario reported.
The injury, which was a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, kept him sidelined for several months and resulted in more than 150 days of inactivity before he returned to the pitch on October 25 in the Clásico against Real Madrid.
Xavi used a press conference to address the perception of De Jong’s performance and tactical role. “Sometimes people do not understand the tactical situations. He is an incredibly complete player,” Xavi said, according to SPORT.
Xavi praises De Jong's ability to occupy multiple roles
Xavi highlighted De Jong’s ability to occupy multiple roles on the pitch, noting that the player’s versatility is a core strength rather than a weakness.
“Yesterday against Atlético, De Jong played as a full-back. It is not what I have in mind for him, although I also placed him as a center-back at Barça.
But what I am clear about is that Frenkie is a ‘top’ player who can play in any position, as a ‘6’ or an ‘8’, he is ‘top’ as a player,” Xavi explained, Mundo Deportivo reported. De Jong’s recent appearance for Barcelona at the Metropolitano saw him enter the second half to play first as a right-back before finishing as a central midfielder.
Beyond technical skills, Xavi emphasized De Jong’s importance to the squad’s hierarchy. The coach described him as a leader who understands the national team’s philosophy and possesses the necessary qualities to handle responsibility within the dressing room, SPORT reported.
“He knows me and the staff. He knows what our philosophy is; he will be important. He has everything necessary to perform well. And he is a leader,” Xavi added, according to SPORT.
Integration of midfield talents
Addressing potential concerns regarding player combinations, Xavi expressed confidence that De Jong can coexist with other midfielders like Joey Veerman. The coach drew a parallel to his own playing career, noting that critics once claimed he and Andrés Iniesta could not play together, a claim that proved incorrect, SPORT reported.
“Many people said that Andrés Iniesta and I could not play together. Can you believe it? But look at what happened afterward. I have experience in that. Of course, Joey Veerman and Frenkie de Jong can play together,” Xavi said, SPORT reported. Xavi intends to build a team where talent does not have to be sacrificed for tactical fit, aiming to utilize the complementary qualities of his best players.
Netherlands Nations League standings
The Netherlands currently leads Group B of the UEFA Nations League with eight points, a total they share with Greece, who holds second place due to a superior goal difference, Yahoo reported. The Oranje secured these eight points through two victories and two draws in their first four matches.
The Dutch squad faces a critical stretch to secure a spot in the quarter-finals, as only the top two teams from the group advance. The upcoming schedule includes a match against Greece on November 13 and a fixture against Germany on November 16, OkDiario reported. Germany enters the matches with five points, while Serbia has yet to score in the group.
| Team | Points | Group Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 8 | 1st (tied) |
| Greece | 8 | 2nd |
| Germany | 5 | N/A |
Netherlands November squad list
The full roster for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches includes several notable names across all positions, as detailed by Yahoo:
- Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen, Mark Flekken, Robin Roefs
- Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven, Ian Maatsen, Jurriën Timber, Quinten Timber
- Forwards: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Noa Lang (Napoli), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Crysencio Summerville (Al Hilal), Ruben van Bommel (PSV), Mexx Meerdink (AZ).
De Jong returns to the national team camp this Monday following his recent appearance for FC Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo reported.
