Frenkie de Jong was one of the substitutions Hansi Flick made around the hour to change the course of the game against Real Betis.
The German was hoping for the Dutchman to add the ‘X-factor’ in midfield, which lacked any initiative. However, moments after coming on, de Jong conceded a penalty that eventually helped Real Betis equalise.
De Jong struggled throughout the remainder of the game, failing to offer any real impact in midfield.
Naturally, the Dutchman’s performance did not sit well with Barcelona fans and critics alike, as they started vilifying the midfielder.
De Jong mentally affected after Betis performance
A recent report from Diario SPORT has suggested that de Jong is not doing very well following his horror show against Real Betis.
De Jong is not doing well mentally (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
It appears the former Ajax starlet is mentally affected by the draw with Betis and the criticism that has come across afterwards.
Frenkie felt guilty for conceding a penalty by committing an unnecessary foul. He apologised to each of his teammates after the game, although no one blamed him for the draw.
For the time being, the Dutchman is trying to regain his peak physical, having struggled with an ankle injury for the most part of this year.
De Jong believes regaining peak fitness could go a long way in helping him return to his old form. He has started putting in extra work outside of group training to further boost his fitness.
The midfielder is also working on his mental wellness, hoping to improve his performances as Barcelona gear up for an important December schedule.