Even at a time when Barcelona have registered a near-perfect form since their defeat to Chelsea last year, the club have not been without its flaws.
One of the problem areas has been the club’s defensive frailty, with the team often struggling to keep clean sheets, especially on European nights.
During this period, the form of Jules Kounde, in particular, has been quite concerning for Barcelona.
Barcelona admit Kounde’s form is receding
According to SPORT, the Barcelona coaching staff admits that Kounde’s form this season has been far from perfect.
For a player who was one of Barça’s top performers last season, the level of quality he has shown this time has been quite underwhelming, to say the least.
While there is no particular fault in the way he has performed, his lack of defensive solidity has been criticised at times.
Kounde must improve his performance soon. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
However, the Frenchman will continue to start matches for Barcelona, ahead of new signing Joao Cancelo, who is at the club until the end of the season.
This is largely due to Kounde’s healthy relationship with Hansi Flick, coupled with the fact that the Barcelona coaching staff hasn’t completely lost hope on the player.
In fact, they believe Kounde can still recover his best form during the remainder of the campaign, with Barcelona gearing up for an important period ahead.
The Frenchman’s abilities could be useful as Barcelona look to secure the quadruple this season.
That being said, Cancelo will still remain a key piece in the puzzle, as the Portuguese international is always a solid option to rely on, should Flick look for an alternate option on the right flank.
