'That's what I want' - Hansi Flick offers advice to Alejandro Balde and gives his verdict on Jules Kounde

""I've spoken with [Balde]. He was coming back from injury and he's changed a lot in this time. When I see Balde, he's improved a lot. He's at the next level, but he needs to take one more step. He's a fantastic player and he has to prove it. He needs to never give up and be better every day. That's what I want from him."

""After the game, I said it was tough choosing who played, and this position was a tough one. Jules gave it his all. I know he's not happy, but he'll accept it in the end. We're a team, and we need everyone. We'll see what happens tomorrow.""

"Balde has been relegated to the bench with the rise of João Cancelo since his arrival on loan in January, and Kounde has dealt with injuries while also struggling to find the same incredible form he showed last season. Kounde was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup in Sunday's league-clinching win in El Clásico, so Flick was asked what both full-backs need to do to earn more minutes going forward."

"Balde's future is heavily linked to Cancelo's; if João is able to secure a permanent deal this summer, then it is possible that Balde might choose to leave and find regular playing time elsewhere. As for Kounde, his subpar performances this season seem to be a result of the heavy workload he had in Flick's first campaign, and it'll be interesting to see if he can bounce back next year."

Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde were important full-backs during Hansi Flick’s first season at Barcelona, but their influence has declined this year. Balde has been relegated to the bench after João Cancelo’s arrival on loan in January, while Kounde has struggled with injuries and has not matched last season’s form. Kounde was left out of the starting lineup in a recent El Clásico win, prompting questions about how both players can earn more minutes. Flick said Balde has improved after returning from injury and must take one more step by improving every day. Flick also emphasized that tough selection decisions are part of team needs and that Kounde will accept the outcome. Balde’s future may depend on whether Cancelo becomes permanent, while Kounde’s performance may improve after a heavy workload in the earlier campaign.

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