Jules Kounde has been excelling for Barcelona this season, solidifying his role as the team’s first-choice right-back.
Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, the 26-year-old Frenchman has seen significant growth in his performances and remains one of the most utilized players when fit.
However, Kounde’s absence from the starting lineup on a few occasions in La Liga appears to be linked to disciplinary matters rather than tactical decisions.
According to AS journalist Javi Miguel, Kounde has been reprimanded by Flick multiple times since the summer due to issues with punctuality.
The defender is reportedly the only Barcelona player to face disciplinary action from the German manager, having been dropped from the starting XI three times for arriving late to pre-match meetings.
The first incident occurred during preseason, when Kounde arrived four minutes late.
Flick promptly informed him in front of the squad, “You’re not starting today.” Similar situations arose in October against Alaves, and again before the Catalan derby against Espanyol, where delays of just one or two minutes resulted in him being benched.
Flick’s stance is clear: “When I say 1:30 pm, it’s not 1:29 or 1:31.” Kounde will hope to avoid such missteps moving forward.
