Kounde blames his own poor season for losing Barça spot to Eric Garcia

📰 Benched at Barcelona, Jules Koundé has blamed nobody but himself, saying last season was well below his standards. 📌 Key points 🩹 Koundé says he is fully fit and it is the coach's decision. 🗣️ He admits last season was far below his own standards. 🔁 Eric García has taken the right-back spot under Flick. 🪑 He was an unused substitute in the last three La Liga games. 🇫🇷 He praised Zidane's close, communicative style with France. 📝 What happened 🗣️ In an interview with Spanish outlet Sport, Koundé said he feels very good physically and has no injury, so his reduced role is down to the coach. He called it a consequence of a previous season in which he fell well short of his level. 🔁 Hansi Flick has preferred Eric García at right-back this term. According to GOAL, Koundé has made just five appearances in all competitions and sat unused in Barcelona's three La Liga games before the international break. 💪 He described the situation as a challenge he gladly accepts, adding that it is up to him to rediscover his best feelings because, at his best, he knows he will get minutes. 🇫🇷 With France, he said new coach Zinedine Zidane is very close to his players and talks to them a lot on and off the pitch. Barça Universal reports that Koundé is vice-captain under Zidane. 📊 By the numbers • Appearances this season: 5 in all competitions • Unused substitute: last 3 La Liga matches • Age: 27 🔭 Why it matters Koundé has been a mainstay of Barcelona's defence in recent seasons, so a place on the bench is a significant shift. His candour suggests a player determined to bounce back, but García's consistency makes it a tough fight. How he takes his chances in a crowded fixture list will decide it.