Goal.com · Jun 7, 2020
De Jong admits 'guilty' feeling over Valverde's Barca dismissal
Frenkie de Jong has revealed it was Ernesto Valverde's sacking in January that drilled home to him how high the standards are set at Barcelona.
The Dutch midfielder arrived from Ajax last July, but he spent just six months working with head coach Valverde.
A dismal performance by Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana against Atletico Madrid was the final straw for the club's board, after a string of jarring displays.
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Yet at the time of Valverde's dismissal, Barcelona sat top of La Liga's table, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, and they had safely secured a place in the Champions League knockout rounds.