FC Barcelona continue their run in La Liga under coach Hansi Flick, but tensions are beginning to emerge in the dressing room.
Among these tensions, the case of Jules Kounde stands out, who until recently was a mainstay in the defence, but in recent weeks has been punished by the German coach.
The match against Rayo Vallecano showed that Flick is ready to make decisive decisions if the player does not abide by the internal rules. In this match, Kounde sat on the bench at Montjuïc, and this time his exclusion was not due to his technical performance, but rather the result of an internal disciplinary problem.
According to sources close to the team, Kounde arrived late for the pre-match meeting against Rayo, and this is not the first time this has happened. Flick has previously shown strict discipline when it comes to punctuality, and the consequences of the Frenchman’s tardiness were immediate: he was dropped from the starting line-up. This is not the first incident of its kind, as Kounde has been punished on two previous occasions for being late, and Flick believes that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.
After the match, Flick was clear with Kounde, giving him a final warning and assuring him that if he repeats the same mistake, he will lose his place in the starting lineup. The German coach does not want the indiscipline of one player to affect the entire group, which is why his stance was firm. Flick believes that the team’s success depends on everyone respecting the rules.
For Jules Kounde, the current situation is worrying. Although he was considered a regular in defence, Hector Fort’s recent good form has meant that his place in the lineup is not guaranteed. If Kounde continues to lose Flick’s trust, he could find himself in a difficult position, and in the worst case scenario, he could become a non-starter in the future.
Flick’s decision has sparked mixed reactions in the dressing room. Some players are in favour of applying the rules to everyone, while others believe that the punishment was too harsh on Kounde and that the situation was handled too badly. Kounde, for his part, is unhappy with the current situation, but he knows that if he wants to maintain his place as a regular in the team, he must change his behaviour.
Kounde’s future at Barcelona will depend on how he handles this crisis. If he can change his behaviour and stick to the rules, he has a chance to regain his place in the starting line-up. But if there are repeated delays or other problems, Flick may have to take more drastic measures.