Jules Kounde says he must reduce his mistakes in possession and be more willing to play forward when the opportunity arises as France prepare to face Belgium in the UEFA Nations League.
The Barcelona defender was speaking at France’s pre-match press conference, where he also addressed his reduced playing time at club level, the team’s tactical development and the competition for places in the national squad.
Kounde acknowledged that his limited involvement at Barcelona was linked to his form last season.
“My performance last season was far below my normal level, and my reduced playing time is related to that,” he said.
France have been working together for almost two weeks, but Kounde said it was too soon to make firm comparisons with previous coaching staff. He was nevertheless encouraged by what the team had shown in their three matches so far.
Under the current approach, France aim to react immediately after losing the ball, press higher up the pitch and make it harder for opponents to build attacks. In possession, they want to control games but also move forward directly when the circumstances require it.
“Everything is still new, but as the games progress, we will continue to improve in both aspects: with and without the ball,” Kounde said. “I think we have room for improvement in both areas.”
Set-piece focus
Kounde also discussed France’s work on set pieces with assistant coach Bettoni, after head coach Deschamps identified them as an area requiring improvement.
Defensively, the priority is to remain compact and deny opponents opportunities. Kounde felt France had generally performed well in that area, although he said two situations against Italy showed that minor adjustments were needed.
The team must also adapt to how each opponent organises its set pieces, identifying the spaces they occupy and those they leave available. France want to improve both their defending and their attacking threat from dead-ball situations.
“Set pieces are a match scenario, and such scenarios are becoming more frequent, with all teams attaching more and more importance to this aspect,” he said.
Kounde revealed that he supplements his club and international training with individual work. In Barcelona, he works with a physical trainer in coordination with the club, focusing on areas that may receive less attention during normal team sessions and on more personalised preparation.
He also works with a mental coach, discussing situations from everyday life as well as issues connected to football.
Asked what the current coaching staff specifically require from him, Kounde said there had been no fundamental change to his role. The wider demand is for France to retain control, particularly when they have the ball, and he believes his technical work must include cutting down on possession errors and finding forward passes when they are available.
His responsibilities will also depend on the team’s attacking structure, the positions of his team-mates and the passing lanes against each opponent.
“There will always be some adjustments when facing different opponents,” Kounde said. “But overall, there’s a certain continuity in the demands of this position.”
