Frenkie de Jong's explosion as a goalscorer
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong said he was 'happy' at the end of Barça's 2-0 win over Elche. A state of affairs reflected in the Netherlands international's performances on the field. In a more attacking postion in midfield the Barça number 21 feels more liberated and that has led to more goals.
More goals thans ever
The news that the midfilelder would be signing for Barça just over two years ago brought smiles to the faces of Barça fans, his emergence as a goalscorer has done just the same. Against Elche Frenkie de Jong scored his sixth goal as a blaugrana.
- Barça - Valencia (Liga 2019/20).
- Betis - Barça (Liga 2019/20).
- Barça - Real Sociedad (Liga 2020/21).
- Huesca - Barça (Liga 2020/21).
- Real Societat - Barça (Super Cup 2020/21).
- Elche - Barça (Liga 2020/21).
A total of six goals in just over a season and a half with his previous best in a season back in Holland of five during this three seasons at Ajax Amsterdam.
If we look at each season individually, the 2020/21 campaign is the most prolific for the Dutchman. Four goals in 25 matches, a record that is an improvement on the three in 48 matches in 2018/19 and the one in 24 in the 2017/18 campaign. .
It is worth pointing out that in the 2016/17 campaign the player moved between the B team and the first team at Ajax and he scored six times for the reserve team and once for the first team.
Complete midfielder
Versatility, vision, hard work in defence, attacking potential and good on the ball. These are some of the characteristics that have allowed the player to become a vital part of Koeman's system.
Aside from his goalscoring stats, De Jong is second in the table at Barça in terms of recovering the ball with 144 and third in assists with four so far.
His dribbling is another great virtue as his is ability to get into the box in his 28 appearances this season for the blaugranes, 23 in the starting XI.