FC Barcelona have started to show clear signs of struggling again as they did in recent weeks. While many would have thought that a convincing win over RCD Mallorca would have given the team a huge boost, they were proven wrong. Once again while playing Real Betis, Barcelona were evidently below par.
The Catalan giants succumbed to a 2-2 draw at the Benito Villamarin to a Betis side that has not exactly been too impressive this season. Unfortunately for Barcelona, that now puts them in a position where Real Madrid just need to win their game in hand and they can climb to a point above La Blaugrana.
Within all these mess-ups and disappointing performances, a certain players who continues to be highlighted as a struggling component of the team is none other than Frenkie de Jong. According to SPORT, his inability to consistently perform at his best level is now creating even more doubts.
Following his return from his ankle injury, the Dutchman has played in 12 matches for Barcelona. Eight of those appearances were in La Liga, and four of them in the UEFA Champions League. However, he has managed to start in only two games so far.
While he performed well against Red Star Belgrade in his first start of the season, he showed his weaknesses in the very next start he got against Real Sociedad away from home. In fact, it was such a frustrating and ineffective display that Hansi Flick decided to take him off at half-time.
Since then, his glimpses of quality have hardly been consistent enough to raise his value within the team. Even the Barcelona fans do not seem to fully agree on his presence, and he ends up facing whistles from sections of the crowd as well whenever he plays a bad game.
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SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 07: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on December 07, 2024 in Seville, Spain.
GIRONA, SPAIN - MAY 04: Xavi, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Girona FC and FC Barcelona at Montilivi Stadium on May 04, 2024 in Girona, Spain.
SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 07: Referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz checks the Video Assistant Referee screen during the LaLiga match between Real Betis Balompie and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on December 07, 2024 in Seville, Spain.
Now, as the season goes on, it is difficult to see just how exactly he can end up being a starter again. He was excellent in his cameo against RCD Mallorca, but he was once again highlighted as one of the underperformers against Real Betis in the recent outing, with the Dutchman even having given the opposition a game-changing penalty.