Hansi Flick punished key defender after arriving late for the pre-match discussion

According to a report by Toni Juanmarti in SPORT, Jules Kounde’s absence from the starting line-up against Alaves was not due to squad rotation but a disciplinary action. 

The French defender was benched because he arrived late for the pre-match discussion. This led to Hansi Flick making a last-minute decision to alter the starting XI.

In the match against Alaves, the only change Flick made compared to the team that beat Young Boys on Tuesday was bringing in Hector Fort for Kounde. 

Up until then, Kounde had played every single minute of the season, so this marked his first rest. However, the decision wasn’t a matter of giving him a break; it was a punishment for his unpunctuality.

Punishment for Kounde

As per the report, Flick’s original plan was to include Kounde in the starting line-up. However, his late arrival at the pre-match talk forced the coach to change his plans. 

Hector Fort was selected ahead of Jules Kounde. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Flick had warned the squad several times this season about the importance of punctuality, and while no previous action had been taken, this time, the manager chose to make an example of Kounde, who had accumulated 900 minutes of play this season.

Fort, a youth player who had been used as a substitute in Barcelona’s last four games, was the one chosen to replace the former Sevilla defender. 

Fort grabbed the opportunity

Fort seized the opportunity and made his first start of the season against Alaves, impressing with his performance. Kounde eventually came on in the final 25 minutes, replacing Fort, who had done his job admirably.

This decision by Flick sends a clear message to the squad about the value of discipline and punctuality. Even a key player like Kounde is not exempt from following the rules, showing the importance of team culture under the German coach.