Frenkie de Jong knows that a tricky tie awaits him and his Barcelona teammates when they play host to Inter in the Champions League later on today.

“When I think of Inter, I think of Wesley Sneijder and the Triplete winning team. It will be a tough match for us tonight because Inter have a great team. They have improved a lot,” he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Antonio Conte is a super manager, he won silverware with Chelsea and Juventus and now he has started very well at Inter. He will have some surprises up his sleeve so we must be ready and I think we are.

“It is true that we have not played our best football in several games, especially struggling away the home. At Camp Nou, however, we are definitely strong. We have to win against Inter because we are in the toughest group. We think we can do it, I’m confident too.”

He then spoke on the difference Lionel Messi – whose presence tonight remains a mystery – makes.

“We miss him and it is normal because he is the best in the world but even without him we have sufficient qualities and ideas to impose ourselves on the pitch. We are a little less strong but we remain an excellent team.

“Playing with Leo is easier, he does everything so well. When he gives you the ball, it is as if it has instructions attached and you have to do it. What he does on the ball is impressive but not surprising as he has been doing it for years.”

He also spoke on the fact he will come against national team teammate Stefan de Vrij.

“We have spoken and I can’t wait to face him. He was delighted with Conte’s arrival, and he talks to me about a solid team where everyone works for others. He is part of Inter’s three man defence which is made up of three great player. We have to do our work on it and identify where they leave spaces, if there are any, and exploit them.”