Frenkie de Jong does not think much of the criticism of his playing style. According to analysts and the media, the Dutchman sometimes carries the ball too much, but he himself does not think that is really the case.
Frenkie de Jong defends his playing style as criticism continues around Barcelona role
Frenkie de Jong has offered a detailed defence of his playing style after once again facing criticism over the way he carries the ball in midfield. The Barcelona midfielder, who has often been praised for his technical quality, calmness under pressure and ability to progress play, has also had to deal with repeated questions about whether he sometimes holds on to the ball for too long.
The debate has followed De Jong for much of his time at FC Barcelona. Ever since his move from Ajax, where he became one of the most admired young midfielders in Europe, there has been a constant discussion about how he fits into the traditional Barcelona midfield model. For some, De Jong is a natural Barça player because of his intelligence, control and comfort in possession. For others, his game is different from the classic one-touch rhythm associated with the club’s greatest midfielders.
Speaking in an extensive interview with Sport, De Jong made it clear that he does not agree with the idea that the best Barcelona midfielders always played the ball first time. According to the Dutchman, that version of history is too simplistic and does not reflect what actually happened on the pitch during the club’s most dominant years.
They always say that Pep Guardiola’s Barça only played one-touch football, but that is not true, De Jong explained. The only one who really did that was Sergio Busquets. Xavi touched the ball very often, really very often.
For De Jong, the image of Guardiola’s Barcelona as a team that moved the ball instantly in every situation has become something close to a myth. He believes people have simplified that team’s style over time, turning a complex and intelligent way of playing into a basic idea that does not tell the full story. In his view, great midfielders did not pass quickly just for the sake of passing quickly. They passed quickly when the situation demanded it, and they held the ball when that was the better decision.
I watched all the matches, he said. They only played with one or two touches when the situation required it. It depends on the match, whether you are under pressure, whether there is a free man. You cannot decide in advance to play that way. It is a myth that they only played like that back then, something people have made up.
That explanation goes to the heart of De Jong’s view of football. He sees possession not as a matter of speed alone, but as a question of timing, space and responsibility. For him, passing the ball quickly is not automatically the right decision. If a teammate is marked, if the passing lane is risky, or if the receiver would immediately be put under pressure, then releasing the ball simply to look quicker can be harmful rather than helpful.
This is where much of the criticism around De Jong becomes more complicated. From the outside, a midfielder carrying the ball for several seconds can sometimes look slow or indecisive. But from the player’s perspective, that same action may be a way of attracting pressure, creating a better angle or waiting for a teammate to move into a more useful position. De Jong has built much of his career on that ability to glide past opponents and change the structure of an attack by moving with the ball rather than simply passing it sideways.
The Dutch midfielder also admitted that he is not perfect and that there are moments when he could move the ball earlier. He did not reject criticism completely, but he insisted that the situation must always be understood before judging the decision.
There are situations where I could play the ball faster, De Jong said. But if you are free yourself and your teammate is not, then passing makes no sense. You have to be able to play the ball forward. If you are free and the full-back also has some space, but you see an opponent lurking, there is no point giving him the ball. Then you put him in trouble.
That answer shows why De Jong can sometimes be misunderstood. His game is based on reading pressure and choosing the safest or most progressive option depending on the moment. He does not see football as a fixed formula in which the ball must always be moved instantly. Instead, he believes every action depends on the opponent, the position of teammates, the available space and the risk involved in the next pass.
The discussion has also been fuelled by comments from former Dutch internationals and pundits. According to the Sport journalist, De Jong has been mockingly called a postman in the Netherlands, a reference to the idea that he carries the ball from one place to another instead of releasing it quickly enough. Rafael van der Vaart and Marco van Basten were mentioned in that context, although De Jong felt that the criticism has sometimes been exaggerated.
Van Basten said that once, De Jong responded. That is what people remember. Van der Vaart actually often says positive things about me on television. If they say something negative, that is what comes out, because it sells better.
His answer reflects a wider frustration many players have with modern football coverage. Positive analysis often receives less attention, while criticism spreads quickly because it creates stronger reactions. De Jong appears aware of that dynamic, but he also seems determined not to let it change how he understands his own game.
For Barcelona, this debate comes at an important moment in the season, with the team preparing for the trip to face Valencia CF on 23 May 2026 at 21:00. Matches away to Valencia are rarely simple, and De Jong’s ability to control the tempo, escape pressure and connect the defensive and attacking lines could again be an important factor for FC Barcelona.
In games where Barcelona are expected to dominate possession, the role of a midfielder like De Jong becomes especially important. He is often asked to receive the ball under pressure, help the team progress through midfield and make decisions that may not always look spectacular but are essential to keeping control. When he carries the ball forward, he can break lines in a way that few midfielders can. When he pauses, he can give teammates time to adjust their positions. When he passes, he often does so after drawing an opponent out of shape.
That is why the discussion around him is not simply about whether he runs with the ball too much. It is also about how people interpret midfield play. Some observers prefer a faster, more direct circulation of possession. Others value the ability to hold the ball, manipulate pressure and advance through movement. De Jong clearly belongs to the second category, although he insists that the best decision always depends on the specific moment.
His comments also reveal the weight of comparison at Barcelona. Any midfielder who plays for the club is inevitably measured against the standards set by Busquets, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. That can be both a privilege and a burden. De Jong is not trying to copy any of them exactly, and his interview suggests that he believes the memory of that legendary team has sometimes been distorted.
Rather than accepting the idea that Barcelona’s greatest midfielders played only one-touch football, De Jong argues that they were great precisely because they knew when to speed up and when to slow down. In that sense, his defence is not just about himself. It is also about a more nuanced understanding of football intelligence.
De Jong ended the conversation with a smile, but his message was clear. He accepts that opinions will differ, yet he does not believe every criticism comes from a deep understanding of the game.
I think a lot of people know little about football, or have a different opinion from me, he said. Then it becomes very difficult to agree on whether I played a good match or not.
When the journalist asked whether he thought journalists understood football, De Jong replied with humour but also with honesty: Some do, but there are more who do not understand it than those who do.
It was a sharp ending to an interview in which De Jong showed both self-confidence and self-awareness. He knows there are parts of his game that can still improve, but he also believes much of the criticism aimed at him misses the bigger picture. For him, football is not about playing quickly at all costs. It is about choosing the right action at the right time. And as Barcelona prepare for another demanding fixture, De Jong seems more convinced than ever that his way of seeing the game remains central to who he is as a midfielder.
