De Jong says Netherlands had no need to risk him after Greece win

Frenkie de Jong says there was “no need to take any risks” by keeping him on the pitch after he was substituted at half-time in the Netherlands’ 7-0 victory over Greece in the Nations League.

The Barcelona midfielder’s withdrawal prompted concern among the club’s supporters, with Netherlands manager Xavi Hernandez saying De Jong had been troubled by a back problem.

However, De Jong played down the issue and explained that the decision was a precaution, particularly because he had only recently returned from a lengthy absence with a knee injury.

“It was 5-0 at half-time and I had only just come back from injury, so it was the right decision and there was no problem with it,” the 29-year-old told Dutch radio station NOS.

He added: “I had only just returned from injury and had not yet built up much match fitness. Considering the amount of travelling and international football, as well as my injury history, there was no need to take any risks.”

De Jong also praised the Netherlands’ collective performance, highlighting the team’s positioning, attacking efficiency and ability to make the most of its opportunities. The hosts scored early and had established a five-goal lead by the interval.

“I think we simply managed to do things correctly in terms of our positioning on the pitch, and of course we also took the chances we created,” he said.

“We scored the first goal straight away, which always helps. Things went well from a footballing point of view and the performance was very good.”

Despite the emphatic result, De Jong said the Netherlands must continue to improve rather than treat one successful match as proof that they have reached their desired level.

“It is a good step and everything looked great tonight. Now we simply have to keep moving forward,” he said.

De Jong outlined the style the Netherlands are seeking to establish, saying the team wants to attack, build from the back, press aggressively in advanced areas and control matches.

“Our vision is clear. We want to attack, build play from the back, press strongly high up the pitch and impose our control on matches,” he said.

The Barcelona midfielder added that the team’s development remained a long-term process and that a convincing victory alone could not demonstrate how far it had progressed. He identified the World Cup as the Netherlands’ most recent genuine test and said the aim was to reach a level capable of challenging for the title.

“We are now in a period of continued improvement, so that we can reach the level that allows us to compete for the title – and hopefully that will happen within two years,” he said.