De Jong must accelerate Xavi's ambitious plans for Netherlands: 'He has everything'

De Jong returns from knee injury and will be key to Xavi's plans for the Netherlands, with the coach confident he can accelerate the team's ambitions.

Frenkie de Jong has returned to the Netherlands squad after missing recent internationals with a knee injury, and manager Xavi Hernández is counting on him to drive his tactical vision for the team.

Xavi, who worked with De Jong at Barcelona, believes the midfielder is essential to his philosophy of controlling opponents with confidence and flair. "Frenkie must be important for us on the pitch," Xavi said. "He has everything in him to perform." The two know each other well and share the same football ideas, with Xavi having called De Jong before even starting his role as coach.

At 30 years old with 70 caps and 300 Barcelona appearances, De Jong is approaching a new chapter. When asked if he is underrated, Xavi responded: "Yes, I think he is underrated, but not by his teammates and coaches. If you ask his teammates who the best midfielder is, they will say Frenkie."

Xavi dismissed concerns about pairing De Jong with Joey Veerman in midfield, drawing a parallel to his own partnership with Andrés Iniesta at Barcelona—two players many thought could not play together, yet they won nearly every trophy available. The Netherlands face Greece on Friday in Amsterdam.