The level displayed by Jules Koundé with FC Barcelona does not satisfy everyone. Some even believe that the defender has no place in the France team.
Since leaving Sevilla FC for FC Barcelona, Jules Koundé has played in a four-man defense which is not without causing him some problems. Often in the center, he is also used in the right lane by his coach. But the performances of the former Girondins de Bordeaux are not always conclusive, especially when he plays in this famous corridor. Enough to make some say that the player is perhaps not at the level to play in the French team.
This is the clear opinion given Thursday evening by Eric Blanc. Former rugby player turned consultant for the channel The Team, he did not do half-measures when judging the recent performances of Jules Koundé, notably during Barcelona’s success against Osasuna, in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup (2-0). “ Today, there are plenty of players who have to leave. There are players who do not have the level of Barça. Koundé, I see all the matches. Xavi keeps alternating between Araujo on the right or central. Araujo is a central player and from time to time he (Xavi) does the opposite. But that I don’t understand. Koundé, central? Not invited. »
“Let him change position”
And the observer pushes his conclusions even further on the international selected twenty-four times for the Blues. More particularly on a position in central defense: “ Never invited to the French team. Deschamps understood this. Right back, it’s not going well. Not at the international level. He needs to retrain, like when he played in Seville with three defenders, but he plays in front of the defense. I’m the only one who thinks that. Let him play in the middle. Let him change positions. »
