Koundé has played just 261 minutes across the first eight matches. More surprising still, he has spent the last three games glued to the bench without a single appearance.
The Frenchman’s situation ranks among the season’s unexpected twists. Eric García took his starting spot last season, and the current split of minutes leans heavily towards the Catalan, who has racked up 469 minutes. That is 208 more than the former Sevilla man.
Over the past two seasons, Koundé’s level has slipped, and he now sits a long way from the outstanding form he showed in Flick’s first year. The German knows the Frenchman’s habit of losing mental focus could cost the team points, and that has cost him his prominent role.
Zidane took a different view. Despite Koundé’s place on the Barcelona bench, France’s coach played him the full 90 minutes in their opening fixture of this international break against Turkey. These national team games could prove decisive in helping him rediscover his focus and his usual level.
He may return to a rosier picture in his hunt for a starting berth. Christensen’s injury, plus the possible absence of Eric García through injury too, will open the door to two vacant slots in the Blaugrana defence.
Now Koundé must fight for his place again, while Flick has to hand him the chances to measure just how much of his best level he can recover.
Remember, too, that the player came close to leaving the club this summer, with the board rating him one of the most valuable assets on the transfer market.