Jules Kounde faces unprecedented absence from Barcelona La Liga squad

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has gone three matches without playing for the La Liga team for the first time since his arrival at the Catalan club. Mundo Deportivo reports that this absence marks a rare occurrence in Kounde's career, never happening during his tenure at either Barcelona or his previous club, Sevilla. The French defender missed the games against Levante, Racing, and Sevilla, despite being a vital player in earlier seasons.

Initially, he made only limited appearances against Elche and Athletic Bilbao before starting against Rayo Vallecano and being used as a substitute due to an injury to Eric Garcia. He also featured as a starter in a UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord but was substituted around half an hour before the match concluded. Since then, Kounde has been absent from coach Hansi Flick’s La Liga plans amidst intense competition for the right-back position.

While Flick has mentioned the possibility of utilizing Kounde as a central defender, he has thus far favored him in the right-back role. These events underscore a significant shift at Barcelona, where star players no longer automatically secure a starting spot, and selections are increasingly dictated by performance. For Kounde, the path forward is evident: he must earn back the coach's confidence and regain his position in the starting lineup.