28 minutes in the last 3 games
De Jong's rebirth relegates Casadó to the background
The Catalan pivot has been the biggest casualty of the Dutchman's growth. He is no longer a regular in the centre of the field, but instead spends more time than he would like on the bench
Frenkie de Jong has overtaken Marc Casadó on the right. The former captain of the reserve team is in his first season in the top elite of football. During the first half of the season, he was a permanent fixture in the Barça midfield, as he offered the balance that the team needed. On the other hand, the Dutchman, the team's third captain, was destined to be one of the leaders of a squad full of youngsters, but he had a bad initial stretch. Everything changed after the Spanish Super Cup final, as the former Ajax player began to take advantage of the minutes that Flick gave him in the rotation and has earned himself a starting position.
Pedri is in the best moment of his career, so it was unlikely that he would be replaced. Gavi, Olmo and Fermín, depending on the rival and the context, are fighting for a place in the attacking midfield. Thus, the victim of the growth in the performance of the '21' could only be the man from Sant Pere de Vilamajor. Although he continues to receive minutes, the amount has dropped considerably. In the last 5 matches, the youth player has played 88 minutes, an amount that is not equivalent to a full match.
De Jong vs Casadó, very different styles
Frenkie and Marc are two different, but compatible, footballers. They do not perform the same functions, but the current sporting context of FC Barcelona has led them to compete for a position. The Dutch native is a profile that needs to be accompanied by a holding midfielder. However, as the defensive commitment of the squad is high and he is used to handling possession of the ball, his shortcomings are not being exposed. Likewise, the attitude of the midfielder is different, far from the apathy seen during the first months of the competition.
De Jong has a very good vision of the game, a silky touch of the ball, he is fast and has the ability to break lines with his powerful dribbling. He is also capable of having a presence in the rival area, something that contributes a lot to this Barça offensive. However, in games like Monday's against Rayo Vallecano, he may not be the most suitable. The game against the team managed by Iñigo Pérez was broken up by the visitors' voracious offensive transitions. In this context, the azulgranas needed someone to hold the engine room.
Casadó, on the other hand, is a footballer with great skills for defensive tasks. He is fast, intense and powerful in duels, above and on the ground. In the same way, he has a very interesting vision of the game. In fact, in the first part of the season, he was seen occupying various heights in the centre of the field, not only the most defensive position. If the team needed him to dress as an inside midfielder, he did so and directed the game. He knows how to interpret the scenario and act accordingly, something he developed in the reserve team, under the command of Rafa Márquez.
The reduction in minutes of the youth team player is notable in recent matches, that is undeniable. However, we must not forget him, as he will be very necessary in important contexts. His contribution to the Barça engine room is, literally, unique in the squad. Perhaps his role has changed now, but his big nights will not remain in limbo. Be patient, the season is long.
