Jules Kounde working beyond training to win back Hansi Flick’s trust at Barcelona

Jules Kounde is putting in extra work away from Barcelona’s official training sessions as he attempts to regain his place and rebuild Hansi Flick’s confidence at the start of the season.

The France international has lost the near-guaranteed starting status he held since Flick took charge, with his position at the club changing significantly in recent months.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Kounde has not been a priority for Flick since June. Barcelona’s sporting department was also prepared to consider a departure if a suitable offer arrived, meaning the defender was no longer regarded as untouchable in the transfer market.

The opening weeks of the campaign have underlined that shift. Kounde’s form declined last season, while other players have moved ahead of him at right-back in recent matches.

Kounde is aware that he has not been at his best and that he must earn Flick’s trust again. However, his physical commitment has remained difficult to question, with the Frenchman continuing to work intensely to reach the highest level possible.

He regularly stays behind at the club’s training ground after the first-team session has ended. While his team-mates head to the dressing room, Kounde continues training with Barcelona’s fitness staff and physiotherapists, Sport reports.

His response to the loss of status has been to work harder. That has involved additional sessions in the gym as well as extending the time he spends at the training ground.

The extra effort is not a new approach for Kounde. He followed the same routine even during what was arguably the strongest period of his career, when several major European clubs, including Manchester City, were monitoring his situation.

Kounde joined Barcelona with a strong reputation and had established himself as an important member of the squad. His current challenge is to recover the level that previously made him a regular starter and persuade Flick that he remains the best option for the role.

For now, the defender is attempting to influence the situation through daily work rather than public statements, using additional physical preparation as he seeks to change his standing within the team.