Frenkie de Jong was sent off in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid, but he still received glowing reviews in the Spanish press. The red card did not change that.
Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup final win over Real Madrid did more than add another trophy to the cabinet. It offered a sharp snapshot of how Hansi Flick wants his team to evolve, and why Frenkie de Jong is starting to look central to that plan again.
After the 3-2 victory, Sport framed the night as a statement performance from the Dutch midfielder, writing that De Jong "has the reins back in his hands" and is a key figure in the shift towards what it called Flick's "Barça 2.0". The message was clear: Barcelona are trying to become less chaotic and more controlled, and De Jong is being positioned as one of the main conductors of that new rhythm.
For a long time, De Jong has lived with a particular kind of expectation at Barcelona. His profile, the transfer fee, the tactical promise, and the idea of a midfielder who can carry the ball through pressure while still dictating tempo have followed him through every phase of his time at the club. But so has the criticism that he has not always imposed himself, that he has drifted in and out of games, or that he has lacked the kind of authority that elite Barcelona midfielders are expected to show. Sport pointed to that recurring theme directly, noting that the situation was not new for De Jong: the club and the fanbase have always wanted him to be a reference point, yet he has not always delivered his best version consistently.
This final, however, was presented in the Spanish press as the kind of night that can reset a narrative. Mundo Deportivo went as far as calling it his best performance in a Barcelona shirt, placing him alongside Raphinha, who was named MVP, as one of the standout players in Jeddah. That combination is important because it reflects Barcelona's current balance. Raphinha provides directness and threat, while De Jong provides order and continuity, and in a high-stakes final those traits can either clash or complement. The reports suggested they complemented.
At the core of the tactical story is the revival of the Pedri-De Jong partnership. Sport described Flick as breathing new life into that formula, with Barcelona playing in a way that is "less frantic" and more controlled than last season. The implication is not that Barcelona have become passive or conservative, but that they are trying to choose when to accelerate rather than being forced into constant urgency. That is where De Jong's skill set becomes valuable. When he plays with confidence, he can help the team exit pressure cleanly, reduce unnecessary turnovers, and keep the team connected across the pitch. Control is not only about possession. It is about distances between lines, how quickly the ball returns after a loss, and how often the team attacks with structure rather than improvisation. In those areas, the De Jong-Pedri dynamic can be decisive.
AS focused on the symbolism of De Jong wearing the captain's armband and used the phrase "finally a captain". It is not just a label. It speaks to what Barcelona have been searching for from him: not merely technical quality, but personality that shows in the way he demands the ball, organizes teammates, and sets the tone in difficult moments. AS highlighted the possession data as supporting evidence, pointing to 99 touches and 94% accuracy. Those numbers, in a final against Real Madrid, suggest a player who was constantly involved and trusted to keep Barcelona stable. Touch count also reflects positioning and availability. If a midfielder receives the ball that often, it usually means he is offering solutions in build-up, helping the team progress through midfield, and staying calm under pressure.
The same AS report also underlined an aspect that often defines perceptions of leadership: physical engagement and willingness to compete. De Jong has sometimes been accused of being too soft, with his character questioned in the harsh language that surrounds elite clubs. The report argued that this match pushed back against that reputation, describing hunger, intensity in duels, and a readiness to do the gritty work in addition to the elegant parts. In other words, he was not just a metronome, he was part of the team's competitive edge.
That is why the red card, while a major incident, was described as not erasing the performance. De Jong was sent off in the 90th minute for a heavy challenge on Kylian Mbappé while trying to win the ball back, leaving Barcelona to finish the closing stages with 10 men. It is a moment that can polarize opinion. On one hand, finals can hinge on late discipline, and any dismissal carries risk. On the other, the context matters: a late attempt to recover the ball can reflect commitment, urgency, and a mindset of protecting the result. The Spanish press tone, based on the quotes you provided, leaned towards the idea that the dismissal was an unfortunate ending to a strong performance rather than evidence of recklessness throughout the match.
From a broader perspective, the final is being framed as a test of De Jong's standing in Flick's hierarchy. AS mentioned that Flick does not hand out starting places lightly, and that De Jong had recently spent 2 matches watching from the bench. That detail matters because it suggests Flick is trying to build a merit-based structure where reputation alone is not enough. If De Jong can deliver nights like this in the biggest fixtures, it strengthens his case not simply as a starter, but as a tactical cornerstone. Sport's suggestion that the De Jong-Pedri duo could become Flick's go-to choice for major matches flows naturally from that logic. Big games usually demand midfield control, especially against opponents with transition threat, and the press interpreted this final as confirmation of Flick's theory that Barcelona have more control with De Jong on the pitch.
There is also a psychological dimension that the reports hinted at: reconciliation. AS wrote that this performance reconciled him with the fans, and perhaps also with himself. That is strong language, but it captures the reality of elite football at Barcelona. Players do not only fight opponents, they fight expectations, narratives, and the constant comparison to what they were supposed to become. A high-profile final against Real Madrid is exactly the type of stage where perceptions can shift quickly.
What happens next depends on continuity. One standout match can start a new chapter, but only repeated performances can define a season. The encouraging part, if you follow the press interpretation, is that this was not a random flash. It was tied to a clear tactical idea: more control, better spacing, and a revived midfield partnership. If Flick continues to build around that structure, De Jong's role becomes more than individual form. It becomes a key mechanism in how Barcelona want to play.
For Barcelona supporters, the most important takeaway may be the simplest: De Jong looked like a player with responsibility and conviction in a decisive match, and the team looked like it had a clearer identity. Even with the late red card, the broader story being told in Spain is that the Super Cup final opened the door to renewed belief, both in the player and in Flick's evolving Barcelona.
Updated: 01:03, 12 Jan 2026
