Barcelona’s undisputed right-back: How Kounde made an uncomfortable position his own

It is no doubt now, that Hansi Flick is moulding Barcelona in his own image, carrying out a systemic change, from top to bottom.

Such impactful has been his effect that the team looks near-unrecognisable from its days under Xavi Hernandez. A team not so different in its composition, to be honest.

If you look closely enough, it is the work Flick and his staff have put in with the players – Pedri looks sharp and in great shape, Raphinha has become a crucial cog in his machine, while Ansu Fati is on a specific regime to regain his top form.

Jules Kounde too finds himself on the same list. The French international has started the season strongly yet again, this time as a right-back.

It wasn’t very long ago when the former Sevilla man had expressed apprehension about playing on the right side of defence under the previous management. But fast forward today, and he outright owns that position. Undisputedly.

A new position

Brought in from Sevilla as a solid, world-class addition to the backline as a centre-back at the start of the 2022/23 season, overbooking in the centre of defence meant Kounde’s talents had to be utilised out wide.

What followed was a triumphant La Liga title with Kounde as an integral piece of Xavi’s system, forming a brick-wall of a backline, namely the ‘BACK’ alongside Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde.

This formula may have propelled Barcelona to the league title, racking up clean sheets at will but it was a formula that was not without its personnel troubles.

The BACK-line that won the La Liga title for Barcelona in 2023. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Shifting pendulum

Despite being mightily solid at right-back, Kounde was not entirely happy about his deployment in the role, a position he wasn’t tasked to fill in as planned initially.

It prompted the club to go out and sign an out-and-out right-back in Joao Cancelo in the summer of 2023, duly returning…

Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/barcelonas-undisputed-right-back-how-kounde-made-an-uncomfortable-position-his-own/

Author : Aryaman Sharma

Publish date : 2024-09-10 15:30:00

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