Barça under Hansi Flick keeps shaping its automatisms at the start of the season. The German coach has made it clear that he wants a solid, versatile defensive line with the ability to adapt to different match scenarios.
On that path, one of the main beneficiaries could be Jules Koundé, who would return to the position where he feels most comfortable.
Since his arrival at Barça, the French defender has had to take on a role that never fully convinced him: right back. Xavi Hernández used him there out of necessity, with Flick also trying him in that position during his first tests.
However, the idea now is different. The change looks set to be radical.
Return to the center of defense
Hansi Flick plans for Koundé to definitively regain his status as a center back. This news is a relief for the player, who has always repeated that his place is at the heart of the back line.
That's where he expresses himself best, where he feels most forceful, and where he can also lead the ball out with good judgment.
Íñigo Martínez's departure requires Gerard Martín to be reconverted to the center back position. But the emergence of Eric García as right back moves Koundé to the center of defense.
The German coach's plan is to form a central pairing with Koundé and Cubarsí, though with nuances. Flick prefers the Frenchman as his first option, even ahead of Araújo.
The reason is simple: he believes Koundé offers greater composure on the ball and fits better with the idea of building from the back without losing defensive reliability.
Eric García gains ground at right back
The coach's trust in Eric García also shapes this restructuring. Flick has communicated internally that the former Manchester City player is the best fit at right back in his system. He sees him as tactically disciplined, solid in marking, and able to join the attack without neglecting the defense.
This decision frees Koundé from the flank and allows him to focus on what he likes most. For the Frenchman, it's a personal triumph.
He never hid that his adaptation to right back was forced and that it wasn't the position where he felt fulfilled. Now, with Flick, he regains prominence in the center of defense.
So far, in the first two official LaLiga matches, Koundé has started on the bench. Eric García has occupied his position both times.
A change that could be final
Flick's reshuffling opens a new scenario at Barça. Araújo will have to compete for the spot, though he remains an important player. Meanwhile, Koundé becomes a key piece of the defense as the team seeks solidity after Íñigo Martínez's departure.
The culé fans have always valued his professionalism for accepting a role that wasn't to his liking. Now, at last, he'll have the chance to show his best version. Flick, who fully trusts him, may have found the balance he was looking for.