Kounde and Barcelona Seek Revenge in the Champions League
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is feeling ambitious ahead of Barça's Champions League opener against Monaco: "Last year, we got knocked out in the quarterfinals, and this year we want more." Kounde believes that the arrival of Hansi Flick as head coach has brought "a fresh dynamic" and that under him, Barça's goal in this Champions League campaign is to "compete and progress."
"The team understands exactly what the coach wants. He’s very hands-on, pays attention to details, and everyone is doing their job well, starting with the forwards, who press high up the pitch. That gives us extra confidence," he explained.
He also highlighted that Flick has introduced "a new way of working" when it comes to physical preparation, focusing on "intensity." However, Kounde was quick to point out that this doesn't mean "we should throw away everything Xavi did before," because last season, there were also moments when the team was "physically in good shape."
Barcelona’s new project under Flick will be tested this Thursday at the Estadio Luís II against Monaco, a team that already defeated them 3-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy this summer. Still, Kounde believes "it will be a different game," noting that in that previous match, Barcelona was exhausted after their U.S. tour.
"Hopefully, we’ve learned from our mistakes in that game. We’re in good form, but so are they. They’re an intense team that presses hard... It’ll be a tough match, but we’re ready," Kounde said about the upcoming showdown with Monaco. On another note, Kounde agreed with Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernández 'Rodri' that players might need to go on strike if their concerns about the demanding schedule aren’t heard.
"I agree with what Rodri said. The schedule keeps getting longer, there are more and more games, less rest time, and more injuries. Players have been complaining for three or four years now, but no one’s listening. There will come a time when we’ll have to go on strike. Now, with the Club World Cup, there’ll be even more games, and you could end up playing around 70 matches a year. It’s crazy," he concluded.
