Hansi Flick is set to keep trusting Jules Kounde in Barcelona’s starting XI, even though the defender is going through a difficult season in La Liga.
Kounde has looked far from his best, making too many defensive mistakes and being beaten too easily in one‑on‑one situations, which has raised concerns among fans and pundits. Even so, Flick values the Frenchman’s partnership with Lamine Yamal on the right side and believes their attacking connection brings an extra dimension to Barcelona’s play.
The coach is reportedly willing to live with some defensive risks because he feels Kounde can still grow under his guidance and recover his former consistency.
Inside the club, the expectation is that this rough spell is temporary and that Kounde will again become the reliable defender who impressed so much last season at Barcelona. In La Liga this term, he has played 22 games, scoring one goal and providing one assist, underlining that he still contributes going forward even while his form is under scrutiny.
With Flick backing him, Kounde now faces the challenge of cutting out errors, sharpening his defensive focus and proving he deserves to remain a regular starter.
