This season, Jules Kounde is once again proving himself to be indispensable for FC Barcelona. He has always been an important player for the Blaugranes ever since he joined the club, and he has continued to be essential for the new coach, Hansi Flick, as well.
His importance in the squad is clear from the fact that currently, he is one of the only two players – the other being Raphinha – in the Catalan team who have played all the possible minutes. A fixed starter at the right-back position, he has accumulated up to 630 minutes in this early phase of the season, and he has also played for France twice in the last international break.
Thus, he is one of the most reliable players in the squad, and as SPORT has noted, the Frenchman has worked a lot to gain this physical reliability. The report notes that Kounde is one of the most hard-working players in the Barcelona squad, and also the one who dedicates the most time to his physical preparation.
The French defender stands out in the Barcelona squad for his discipline and he also takes regular personal work sessions outside of the club’s routine. Some of his training practices really stand out. For instance, instead of undertaking recovery sessions with the rest of the starters following a matchday, Kounde undertakes more intense training sessions with the substitutes.
The 25-year-old defender also rarely skips gym sessions and ensures he works out properly even on matchdays. When the team returns from an away game late at night, he undertakes a personal training session early in the morning, before joining the team for group training. He then also works with a physical trainer during the afternoon.
Last June, he himself expressed his happiness with his physical preparedness and reliability. His work habits seem to be paying off, both for him and the team, and these habits will hopefully help him continue to play at such a high level for years to come.