Carles Puyol Criticizes Jules Koundé After Barcelona’s El Clásico Defeat
Barcelona’s 2–1 loss to Real Madrid in the latest El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu has left the Catalan giants trailing the La Liga leaders by five points after just ten rounds of fixtures. The defeat not only damaged their title hopes but also intensified scrutiny over individual performances and the team’s overall mentality.
Among the most vocal critics was club legend Carles Puyol, who delivered a sharp assessment of Jules Koundé’s recent displays. The former Barcelona captain suggested that the French defender should be dropped from the starting lineup until he rediscovers his form.
Puyol highlighted Koundé’s lapses in concentration and positional awareness, warning that his tendency to leave space behind the defensive line poses a serious risk to the team. He also noted that the 25-year-old’s struggles to contribute both defensively and offensively have disrupted Barcelona’s balance and rhythm.
According to Puyol, if these issues persist, Koundé’s continued inclusion could undermine the team’s defensive stability and jeopardize their entire season.
The remarks serve as a clear message to head coach Hansi Flick, whose side must quickly tighten up at the back to stay in contention. The Clásico defeat exposed significant vulnerabilities in defense — problems Barcelona can ill afford with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid both showing consistent form.
With the title race heating up, Puyol’s warning underscores the urgency for Flick to find solutions and restore confidence to a backline that has come under growing pressure.
