Explained: Why Hansi Flick benched Jules Kounde in Barcelona’s first two matches

One of the key talking points for Barcelona after their two league matches so far has been the omission of Jules Kounde from the starting lineup.

The Frenchman appears to have lost his place in the starting eleven, having failed to get the nod ahead of Eric Garcia at right-back on both occasions.

This is surprising, especially considering the fact that Kounde was one of Barcelona’s top performers last season and recently renewed his contract until 2030.

Kounde still an integral part of Flick’s plans
However, as pointed out by MARCA, Flick’s decision to leave Kounde on the bench in the first two games of the season was a calculated move.

The report adds that the secret behind Kounde’s benching is not a demotion, but rather a clever plan by Hansi Flick to avoid overexerting one of his most important players.