Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
Hansi Flick has managed to revive order at a Barcelona membership going through vital monetary struggles, stunning many by reworking them into one of many high groups in Europe. Nevertheless, forward of their Matchday 24 conflict with Rayo Vallecano, Flick made a daring choice benching a key participant for unpunctuality.
Barcelona was set to host Rayo Vallecano in an important match to say the highest of La Liga after each Madrid groups dropped factors. Nevertheless, followers had been left shocked when defender Jules Kounde, who had not been reported as injured, was relegated to the bench for this essential recreation.
In line with Spanish journalist Helena Condis from Cadena COPE, Kounde was late to the staff’s tactical assembly, which led Flick to take the disciplinary step of leaving him out of the beginning lineup.
When requested about Kounde’s absence earlier than the sport, Flick gave a short however agency response: “Jules Kounde has been benched because it’s an inner choice,” the German coach defined, providing little further context.
Kounde has been a key determine in Flick’s Barcelona this season, with 36 appearances, three objectives, and 7 assists throughout all competitions. Regardless of his strong performances, his tardiness led to Flick choosing 18-year-old academy graduate Hector Fort to start out at right-back as a substitute.
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Flick’s strict strategy to punctuality
Barcelona’s spectacular type underneath Flick shouldn’t be solely because of tactical acumen but in addition his strict administration model. Since his appointment in Might 2025, punctuality has turn out to be a non-negotiable commonplace, with gamers who fail to stick to it going through penalties.
One notable instance of Flick’s self-discipline is goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, who was dropped after arriving late to a staff assembly earlier than the Spanish Tremendous Cup semifinal in opposition to Athletic Bilbao. Since then, Wojciech Szczesny has taken his spot because the first-choice goalkeeper, leaving Peña struggling for minutes.
Will Kounde comply with in Peña’s footsteps? This marks the second time the French defender has been late to a tactical assembly, beforehand being benched for matches in opposition to Deportivo Alaves and Espanyol. With Kounde making the identical mistake once more, it stays to be seen whether or not he can reclaim his beginning place, or if Fort will proceed in his place.
