Waiting for the best Koundé to relaunch Barça under Hansi Flick

The French defender, key in the German coach´s scheme due to his physical deployment, his ability to join the attack, and his defensive reliability, has not yet recovered that version that made him an indispensable piece for the team. The blue-and-maroon right-back is characterized by his power, his ability to cover the entire flank, and his good connection with Lamine Yamal —another player who is also not going through his best moment—. Additionally, Koundé has shown he can reach the opponent´s area, as in the final of the Copa del Rey last season, where he scored a decisive goal that ended up being key to lifting the title.

Performance affected by physical discomfort

At the Santiago Bernabéu, Koundé played the Clásico physically compromised, with discomfort in his calf that even cast doubt on his participation. That limitation was reflected in his performance: Vinicius managed to surpass him frequently and, moreover, he did not find much support in a defense that, since Iñigo Martínez left for Arab football, has not shown the same solidity. In attack, the Parisian had a very clear chance after a great assist from Lamine, but he failed to convert it. In full condition, that action would likely have ended in a goal. Just a few days earlier, in the derby against Girona, Koundé had shown signs of unusual insecurity, giving off a sense of lack of confidence that contrasted with his usual firmness.

Performance below expected level

Whether due to physical issues or the structural difficulties that Barça is going through, the truth is that Koundé is far from his best version. The team needs to recover the player who last season contributed 4 goals and 8 assists, in addition to great defensive consistency from the right-back.

Numbers confirm the drop

The statistics support that feeling of a drop in performance. In game construction, for example, Koundé´s average interventions in LaLiga have dropped from 79 per match last year to 65.9 this season. His average of accurate passes has also decreased, from 50 to 43.6. In the defensive section, the data also reflects a slight decline. Last season he recovered an average of 3.3 balls per match, while now he is at 2.3. In clearances, he has dropped from 1.8 to 1.4 per game. Although the differences are not vast, they do help explain why his impact has been lesser.

An irregular start and an implicit message

The current campaign, Koundé´s fourth as a blue-and-maroon player, promised a lot after his renewal until 2030, an agreement that was interpreted as a vote of confidence from the club and a stimulus for the player. However, the Frenchman started the season as a substitute in the first two league matches, against Mallorca and Levante, in favor of Eric García, who performed well in that position. Perhaps that detail was an early sign that the coach expected more from him, a warning that went unnoticed at the time but is now particularly relevant in a Barça that needs, more than ever, to count on his best version again.