The Resurgence of Jules Koundé: Barcelona Defender Shines in New Position

05/09/2023 and las 08:00 CEST

It’s another Jules Koundé. And not only because a goal from him paved the way to victory in El Sadar, but also because in the axis of the defense he is showing himself to be very sure, without fissures, and because their participation within the team has increased considerably. He feels released.

Without a doubt, the former Sevilla player has taken a load off his shoulders by leaving the right-back, position in which he had to play many games last season with irregular performance.

To the point that he decided to ask Xavi Hernández that he had to return to his natural position. The man from Egar took it well and since the preseason he made Ronald Araujo play on the wing. He took risks, because the Uruguayan, between cotton and in a demarcation that requires greater explosiveness, he ended up injuring himself.

Relieved with the signing of Cancelo

He only had to return a Koundé match to the lane. It was against Cádiz at the official premiere of Montjuïc and he delivered. The next day, in Villarreal, it was Sergi Roberto who occupied the band, as well as in Pamplona until the debut of Joao Cancelo. The signing of the Portuguese is a notable relief for the Parisian and is even reflected in his game.

In El Sadar he completed an excellent performance. On the offensive side, he dribbled three times with success, shot twice on goal and scored a goal, the second in his 44 appearances as a Barça player. In defense, he won 9 of 11 games, cleared 7 times and intercepted the ball on 2. And all this, without committing a single foul, according to data from analyst and journalist Pol Alonso. Possibly one of his best games, if not the best, since his signing in the summer of 2022 for 50 fixed euros plus 5 in variables.

Fierce competition looms

Koundé will need to maintain his high level, as the competition between the centre-backs looks tremendous this season. for now is forming a tandem with Andreas Christensen, but when Ronald Araujo returns from injury, the Uruguayan has always been a starter. And then there is Iñigo Martínez, whom Xavi Hernández has always loved and called him personally to sign for Barça. And being the only one with a left-handed profile can give Ondarroa an advantage.

Will he also speak to Deschamps?

Jules Koundé has gone happily to the concentration of the French team. He is the only representative of the neighboring country that remains at Barça, after the departures of Lenglet and Dembélé, and previously that of Griezmann.

With the ‘bleus’ you can find a paradox, that of returning to the right side now that that ‘Sword of Damocles’ has been removed at Barça. And it is that the last nine games of him under the orders of Didier Deschamps he has played them in the lane, the last one, last June against Greece at the Stade de France, with a 1-0 victory.

Konaté and Upamecano were the center-backs and both have been summoned again for the qualifying match against Ireland on Thursday at the Parc des Princes and for the friendly in Dortmund against Germany on Tuesday, September 12.

Koundé has not played central with his team for almost a year, on September 22, 2022, when he had just over twenty minutes against Austria (2-0). We will have to see if he has also decided to talk to Deschamps…

2023-09-05 06:00:36
#Barcelona #threat #Koundé