Barcelona’s French defender, Jules Koundé, has found himself in hot water with head coach Hansi Flick over multiple breaches of the club’s disciplinary rules, particularly regarding punctuality. The situation came to light after Koundé was dropped for the second time this season in Barcelona’s recent match against Espanyol.
Flick’s Strict Stance on Punctuality
Hansi Flick, known for his no-nonsense approach to management, made it clear to Koundé that there is no room for tardiness in his system. According to AS, Flick told the defender, “When I say 13:30 hours, it is neither 13:29 hours nor 13:31 hours,” emphasizing the importance of precision and discipline within the squad.
Flick’s discipline-first approach is a key part of his management style, and it seems that Koundé’s repeated lapses have not gone unnoticed by the coach.
Koundé’s Disciplinary Breaches
The issues surrounding Koundé’s punctuality have been ongoing. Reports from AS claim that Koundé was late by four minutes to one of the pre-season fixtures, leading to him being dropped from the starting lineup. More recently, the French centre-back was again late—this time by two minutes—before the game against Alaves in October, which resulted in another benching.
Koundé’s lack of discipline in this area has become a talking point, not only among fans and pundits but also within the Barcelona squad.
Flick’s Impact on the Squad
Flick’s strict policies are designed to instill discipline and order within the team, ensuring that every player is committed to the collective effort. His approach has been praised for its effectiveness at Bayern Munich, and he now hopes to bring that same standard to Barcelona. However, Koundé’s persistent tardiness may pose a challenge to this vision, especially as it affects team harmony and individual opportunities.
The situation with Koundé and Flick highlights the importance of discipline, both on and off the pitch. As Barcelona navigates its challenging season, Flick’s commitment to maintaining high standards may ultimately benefit the team in the long run. However, Koundé will need to address his punctuality issues if he is to regain Flick’s trust and secure a regular spot in the starting lineup.