Barcelona’s undisputed right-back: How Kounde made an uncomfortable position his own

It is no doubt now, that Hansi Flick is moulding Barcelona in his own image, carrying out a systemic change, from top to bottom.

Such impactful has been his effect that the team looks near-unrecognisable from its days under Xavi Hernandez. A team not so different in its composition, to be honest.

If you look closely enough, it is the work Flick and his staff have put in with the players – Pedri looks sharp and in great shape, Raphinha has become a crucial cog in his machine, while Ansu Fati is on a specific regime to regain his top form.

Jules Kounde too finds himself on the same list. The French international has started the season strongly yet again, this time as a right-back.

It wasn’t very long ago when the former Sevilla man had expressed apprehension about playing on the right side of defence under the previous management. But fast forward today, and he outright owns that position. Undisputedly.

A new position

Brought in from Sevilla as a solid, world-class addition to the backline as a centre-back at the start of the 2022/23 season, overbooking in the centre of defence meant Kounde’s talents had to be utilised out wide.

What followed was a triumphant La Liga title with Kounde as an integral piece of Xavi’s system, forming a brick-wall of a backline, namely the ‘BACK’ alongside Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Alejandro Balde.

This formula may have propelled Barcelona to the league title, racking up clean sheets at will but it was a formula that was not without its personnel troubles.

Shifting pendulum

Despite being mightily solid at right-back, Kounde was not entirely happy about his deployment in the role, a position he wasn’t tasked to fill in as planned initially.

It prompted the club to go out and sign an out-and-out right-back in Joao Cancelo in the summer of 2023, duly returning the French defender to where he felt the most comfortable, at the heart of the defence.

To back up his argument, the stylish centre-back started the season in good form. With Cancelo now occupying the right-back slot, Kounde owned Barcelona’s defensive third with immaculate command.

However, much to his disappointment, key injuries to Balde and even Cancelo, meant Kounde had to fill in again at the position he did not enoy playing in.

Even though circumstances forced him to start out wide, it made a whole lot of sense tactically as well. With Balde and Cancelo as full-backs, the team lacked balance and defensive solidarity, shipping goals for fun.

While not entirely convincing at times, Kounde showed a good level of performance at right-back again, despite it not being his preferred role.

The former Sevilla man kept his head down and worked hard to adapt to the position. His determination and commitment translated into scintillating performances, powering the team onto a great run, and assuring Barcelona of a quality and solid player at right-back.

It was all at the right time, as even though Barcelona eventually ended up trophyless, Kounde had earned a ticket to Germany as the undisputed right-back for the French national team at the UEFA Euro 2024.

Summer of emergence

The lore of Jules Kounde – the right-back, took flight at the European Championship in the summer. As part of a stacked French side, the Barcelona ace held down the fort on the right side of the defence quite impressively.

During France’s run to the semi-final, where they were dumped out by eventual champions Spain thanks to a stunner by Barcelona’s very own Lamine Yamal, Kounde came up against some of the most feared wingers in the world.

Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, Belgium’s Jeremy Doku, Portugal’s Rafael Leao and even Barcelona target Nico Williams of Spain, all huffed and puffed to bring down the wall that was Jules Kounde, but all were foiled rather spectacularly.

France didn’t score a ton of goals at the Euros, yet they managed to reach the latter stages due to their incredible solidity at the back and Kounde’s defensive display was a huge reason for their finish at the tournament.

By this point, Kounde’s impeccable defensive work as a right-back was for all to see. Doubts remained, however, about his offensive awareness as a marauding full-back.

The French international, like all the wingers he came up against, shut down the naysayers on that front as well.

Kounde created 17 big chances at the Euros, albeit to no avail. But to put that into perspective, he was the full-back with most chances created only behind Germany’s Joshua Kimmich (26).

To highlight the sheer gravity of this stat, his chance-creation metrics were at par with the likes of Phil Foden (17) and Jamal Musiala (18) and way ahead of Florian Wirtz (12) and even fellow countryman Antoine Griezmann (15).

It also meant he was one of the top three creative forces of the French squad in Germany with only Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe ahead of him, with 27 chances created by both of them.

Undisputed starter at right-back

Kounde’s acclimatisation to the role and the consistency of performances in it, means Barcelona have their first-choice right-back.

This is not to say he was a misfit for the position to begin with.

Kounde’s abilities make him a solid option at right-back. In addition to his defensive prowess, his ball-playing and carrying abilities coupled with incredible strength and power, mean he was a reliable player for the niche position.

Although he isn’t the fastest of the full-backs, his positioning awareness makes up for a whole lot of it.

Even the man himself admitted his struggles and eventual adaption to his role, vowing to get better at it with time.

“I’m not a right-back by training. Sometimes we can put up barriers. It’s no secret, it’s a position that took me a while to get used to, but I was always confident that with work I would do it,” he said in a recent interview.

“It was not a natural position for me and, although I worked a lot, it was something that was going to take time.”

It is fair to say, now under Hansi Flick, Kounde is set to become the ‘pièce de résistance’ of this young Blaugrana side.

If his start to the season is any indication, the Barcelona right-back has hit the ground running immediately. Apart from being a stalwart in defence, he has bagged a goal already too and is forming a crucial understanding with his right-wing partner Lamine Yamal, underlining his work on the offensive end of the pitch.

Kounde’s emergence as a right-back solves one of Barcelona’s critical problems that has plagued them for quite a long time.

It is the player’s work-ethic and perseverance that is propelling him to new heights in this role, quietly developing himself as one of the best in the world in his newfound position – something that was once again on display this week when he faced Belgium’s Jeremy Doku.

For all he contributes to the team, if this is only the beginning of Kounde’s dominance as a right-back, it is safe to say Barcelona’s right flank is set for years to come.