"I think the team understands that very well" – Barcelona star Jules Kounde compares Xavi to new head coach Hansi Flick
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has opened up on the difference in playing style under former club manager Xavi Hernandez and Hansi Flick.
Since Xavi stepped down from his role at the Blaugrana, Flick has done a good job for the Catalan giants. The German has guided his club to 11 wins in 13 outings in all competitions this term, helping them sit atop the 2024-25 La Liga standings with 27 points from 10 games.
During a recent chat with SportyTV, Kounde was asked to opine on his experience of playing under the former Germany boss and compare to his time under Xavi. He replied (h/t Barca Universal):
"The team still maintains Barcelona's traditional high defensive line but with an added sense of urgency and higher pressing. The coach has a clear philosophy, it doesn't matter who we play against, we will always play the same way, he knows what he wants and I think the team understands that very well."
Kounde, who has made 13 total appearances this campaign, added:
"Playing this type of football requires you to be at your best because it requires a lot of effort but the team understands that this effort brings rewards, especially from the forward players who do a great job of pressing."
Owing to Flick's emphasis on pressing from the front, Barcelona have impressed a host of fans and pundits in the recent past. They have scored a whopping 17 goals in their last four games in all competitions.
Barcelona's Jules Kounde lauds rival attacker
Speaking to SportyTV, Jules Kounde showered praise on Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. ahead of Barcelona's El Clasico clash at Santiago Bernabeu this Saturday. The Frenchman said (h/t Barca Universal):
"He is definitely a top candidate for the Ballon d'Or and one of the best players but for me, this is a challenge. This is also why I play football, I love playing against the best, and Saturday's game is no exception."
Claiming that he might need help to stop the Brazilian, he opined:
"He is probably the biggest threat, but they have other players. It's a team full of talent, players who can decide games almost single-handedly. Vinicius is not a player you can stop on your own, especially for 90 minutes. He doesn't stop, and there will definitely be moments when I need help."
So far this season, Vinicius has found the back of the net eight times and recorded seven assists in 14 matches across competitions for his club.
Earlier on Tuesday, the 24-year-old forward bagged his first hat-trick of the season. He helped Real Madrid register a thrilling win as his team beat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in a UEFA Champions League clash.