Jules Koundé’s current campaign has raised concerns: his performances this season have not matched the extraordinary level he showed last year. Despite that dip, Barcelona’s head coach retains full confidence in the defender’s ability to produce his best when the club needs it most.
At a Wednesday press conference, Flick was questioned about Koundé’s downturn. He acknowledged that the player has not been at his best recently but highlighted Koundé’s combative nature, focus and strong mentality. Flick expects Koundé to deliver his top version for the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final tie against Atlético Madrid on Thursday.
The coach also described the encounter as a demanding match for everyone and said he appreciates Atlético’s clear footballing philosophy. Flick stressed that Koundé keeps fighting even when matches do not start well and that the staff value his approach on the pitch.
Koundé logged an extraordinary volume of minutes at the highest level for Barça last season, so it may have been unrealistic to expect an identical level from the start of a new campaign — especially given the heavy demands placed on full-backs in Flick’s system. Such factors help explain the recent drop in form.
Still, Flick believes the defender can regain his best shape, and the coach’s conviction is an encouraging sign: if the manager sees a path back to top form, there is reason to expect it. The situation underlines how important mentality and resilience are during the most intense periods of the season.
