Jules Kounde Admits Barcelona Dip as He Targets Hansi Flick’s Trust
Jules Kounde has accepted responsibility for his reduced Barcelona role, admitting he fell short of his own standards last season as he fights to win back Hansi Flick’s trust.
Key takeaways
- Kounde says he is fully fit and has no injury problem behind his lack of minutes.
- The 27-year-old has been an unused substitute in Barcelona’s past three La Liga games.
- He has played only 10 league minutes across the opening two rounds and made five appearances in all competitions.
- France lead their Nations League group on seven points, one clear of Belgium.
- Kounde has praised new France coach Zinedine Zidane’s close communication and attacking approach.
Kounde accepts Barcelona challenge
The former Sevilla defender has not blamed Flick for leaving him on the bench. Kounde said selection is the coach’s call and insisted his own performances during the previous campaign had not reached the required level.
He believes the competition, including the challenge posed by Garcia, is something he must embrace. Kounde said he will keep working to recover his best form, confident regular minutes will follow once he reaches that level again.
His situation has become increasingly stark in Catalonia. Kounde did not get off the bench in each of Barcelona’s last three league fixtures after featuring for just 10 minutes over their first two La Liga matches. His total for the season stands at five outings in all competitions.
France test offers route back
Kounde is now targeting France’s Nations League meeting with Belgium at Saint-Denis as a chance to strengthen his international position and build momentum for his club fight.
France are in transition following Didier Deschamps’ departure, with Zidane now in charge. Kounde played the entire 90 minutes in Zidane’s first game against Turkiye in September, but was then left out of the starting line-ups for matches against Belgium and Italy.
Despite that uncertainty, Kounde has been encouraged by Zidane’s early work. He said the new manager and his staff regularly speak with players on and off the pitch, offering advice designed to improve the group. He also highlighted Zidane’s push for a more aggressive team, while stopping short of drawing direct comparisons with the previous regime.
France have taken seven points from their opening three group fixtures: 1-0 away wins over Turkiye and Belgium, followed by a 1-1 home draw against Italy. Belgium are second on six points, Italy have four, and Turkiye remain without a point.
Kounde said Zidane wants France to control games, particularly in possession. The defender identified his own use of the ball as an area needing improvement, saying he must become more efficient and more direct. He has also been told to support attacks when opportunities arise, although he said that demand is not new to his game.
What happens next: Kounde will look to make his case against Belgium, with a strong France display potentially giving him the platform to force his way back into Flick’s Barcelona plans.
