Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick has been eager to put in a Germanic self-discipline into his facet since arriving, and that begins with punctuality. He has made it completely clear that those that don’t arrive on time will face punishment.
Below earlier supervisor Xavi Hernandez, that was additionally the case, however underneath the Catalan, the punishment was a monetary one, with gamers receiving fines. One of many key modifications that has been made by Flick is that gamers are benched if they’re late to crew conferences as an alternative.
It’s a punishment that has befallen Inaki Pena, resulting in him being dropped for the Spanish Supercup semi-final in Saudi Arabia, and handing a possibility to Wojciech Szczesny. He would find yourself making the primary spot his personal. No participant has been responsible of the offence greater than Jules Kounde, and it was once more a shock when Hector Fort featured within the beginning XI on Monday evening in opposition to Rayo Vallecano.
Official: The XI! @FCBarcelona
🗣️ Your ideas on Héctor Fort beginning? pic.twitter.com/bAXDbb5GH0
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) February 17, 2025
Cadena Cope report that Kounde was scheduled to start out, and as an alternative it was Hector Fort, with the Frenchman benched for a 3rd time as a result of his poor timekeeping. “Kounde is a substitute as a result of a technical determination,” Flick instructed Movistar+ earlier than the sport, as quoted by MD, nevertheless it has been extensively reported {that a} uncommon begin for Fort got here courtesy of Kounde being late.
Beforehand Kounde has been dropped in video games in opposition to Alaves at Mendizorrotza, and at residence to Espanyol, resulting in all three of Fort’s begins in La Liga this season underneath Flick. The 18-year-old full-back had a promising begin to life within the senior facet underneath Xavi, enjoying on each the proper and left flanks, however has seen his involvement lower considerably underneath Flick. The German has virtually solely opted for Kounde at right-back this season, with Fort one among his few alternate options.