Not Raphinha or Cubarsi – The Barcelona player Hansi Flick puts his full trust In | OneFootball

Jules Kounde has been one of the standout performers for Barcelona this season, showcasing remarkable physical strength and endurance.

Despite the team’s hectic schedule, Kounde has been a key figure, playing the most minutes of any Barcelona player.

He has featured in all 33 official matches for the club, with the only exception being a brief stint as a substitute in the La Liga encounters against Alaves and Espanyol.

Most used player

His absence from the starting line-up in the match against Alaves raised eyebrows, especially when it was revealed that Hansi Flick had applied a strict internal team rule.

This rule, which had never been enforced before, saw Kounde dropped to the bench as a consequence of arriving late to an activation training session and the pre-match tactical briefing.

Jules Kounde has played the most minutes for Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

In terms of playing time, Kounde has logged an impressive 2,722 minutes this season, surpassing both Raphinha (2,627 minutes) and Pau Cubarsi (2,560 minutes).

While Raphinha has featured in 32 games, resting in one against Barbastro, Cubarsi has played all 33 matches, though with slightly more rotation in his appearances.

A regular for Flick

Kounde has been a regular starter in both the Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup, with his only tactical substitution coming in the match against Benfica.

During that game, Kounde was replaced in the final 15 minutes as Barcelona switched to a three-centre-back formation in an attempt to turn the game around, which ultimately resulted in a thrilling 5-4 victory.

Defensively, Kounde has been rock solid, offering exceptional stability at the back for Barcelona. His contributions have extended beyond just defensive duties, as he has also made a notable impact going forward.

The Frenchman has scored three goals and provided seven assists, showing that he is playing a crucial role on both ends of the pitch.

Despite initially expressing a reluctance to play in this position, Kounde seems to be thriving in his current role, continuing to grow and improve as the season progresses.