De Jong’s Frustrations Emerge After Barcelona’s Loss to Real Sociedad

Tensions escalated at the Reale Arena after Barcelona’s setback in the title race, culminating in one of the most intense post-match interviews of the season by Frenkie De Jong. Following a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad, the Dutch midfielder did not mince words regarding the referee, suggesting that the official’s demeanor towards the players was both disrespectful and condescending.

In an interview with DAZN immediately after the match, De Jong appeared visibly upset. His agitation was heightened after receiving a yellow card in the closing moments of the game, a decision he felt was unjustified. “With this referee, it is very frustrating,” De Jong expressed. “You can’t communicate, even though I’m the captain and should be able to do so.”

He further elaborated, “He looks at you as if to say, ‘I’m better than you.’ Such an attitude is counterproductive.”

The breaking point for De Jong seemed to occur during stoppage time. As Barcelona pushed for an equalizer, the game was marred by interruptions, with Real Sociedad deliberately slowing the pace to secure their victory. De Jong attempted to highlight this to referee Gil Manzano, only to find himself booked for dissent.

Reflecting on the incident, De Jong shared his rationale, believing it was entirely reasonable given the context of the match. “During stoppage time, I advised him to monitor the clock because every foul—which is normal for them—and each throw-in or goal kick was an interruption,” he noted. “They took a full minute for throw-ins, and I told him this. Instead, I received a yellow card, and he added just ten seconds of stoppage time. This is absurd.”

While the referee’s time management and attitude were significant grievances, the most contentious matter of the evening was undoubtedly the disallowed goals. With three goals ruled out, the chaos of the night was evident, but one particular decision drew De Jong’s ire: the annulled strike by Lamine Yamal in the first half.

The goal was disallowed for offside, which significantly impacted the match’s outcome. De Jong disclosed a noteworthy conversation he had with the fourth official, which contradicted the on-field ruling. “The controversy revolved around the goal disallowed for Lamine Yamal in the first half,” he remarked. “If it was offside, then nothing can be done, but we were informed that it was not. I spoke to the fourth official, and he confirmed it was not offside.”

De Jong noted that this was not the first instance of Barcelona feeling aggrieved at this stadium. “A similar situation occurred last year,” he recalled. The confusion regarding the decision only intensified the sense of injustice, with De Jong suggesting even the sideline officials were unsure about the ruling.

Despite the ire directed towards Gil Manzano, De Jong candidly acknowledged that Barcelona’s own shortcomings in front of goal were factors contributing to their defeat. The loss at Anoeta represents a significant blow to their title hopes, allowing rivals to close the gap, with Real Madrid now just a point behind after their victory over Levante.

“We deserved to win,” De Jong asserted, redirecting the focus back to the game itself. “We had the opportunities, but we failed to convert them, and their goalkeeper was exceptional.” Indeed, Real Sociedad’s goalkeeper made a series of impressive saves, thwarting the Blaugrana’s attempts throughout the match.