French defender Jules Kounde opted to join FC Barcelona over Chelsea as he “preferred Xavi’s speech” to Thomas Tuchel’s.
The France international had looked set to sign for Chelsea
during the most recent transfer window, only to put pen to paper on a five-year
deal at Camp Nou.
Sevilla director of football Monchi suggested at the time
that Barca went for Kounde after Chelsea had withdrawn their offer due to
“having doubts.
However, Kounde has insisted the decision was his own after
being wooed by Barca head coach Xavi.
“First, I have come to a huge club, which has known good
times and which, lately, has had less,” he said.
“I come to a project that I will not call reconstruction,
because we already have a competitive team, but rather, being upturned.
“I was interested in being part of this new wave, in search
of titles, and to put Barca back where it has always been, among the best
clubs.
“Then there was the conversation with the coach.
We talked about football.
I felt a real confidence from him, that he had a real
knowledge of myself, my game and my qualities.
“I spoke with Tuchel and I also felt that he wanted me to
come, but I simply preferred Xavi’s speech.”
Chelsea have made a slow start to the 20222023 season and
recently brought an end to Tuchel’s 20-month tenure.
In spite of their high-profile financial issues, meanwhile,
Barca have made a strong start to their campaign and are two points off LaLiga
leaders Real Madrid after six matches.
Kounde was registered by FC Barcelona at the end of August,
a month after joining, and has helped the Catalan giants to four clean sheets
in his five appearances.
Indeed, the five clean sheets Barca have kept in their opening
six league matches is a tally they did not reach until 21 games played last Season.
And Kounde, one of two defenders alongside team-mate
Alejandro Balde to have provided two assists in a single LaLiga match this
term, believes he is well suited to Xavi’s style.
“When I talked to Xavi he told me that my qualities
correspond to his game plan, starting from the back, playing high, using my
qualities of speed and anticipation,” Kounde said.
“He also wants an aggressive team- we are one of the teams
that presses high.
“He saw me in this system and I too saw myself in this team
that I saw make a pretty crazy rise in the table last season.
“With Sevilla we were 15 points ahead of them in the middle of the season. Xavi arrived and I saw the changes he made and what direction he was going in. I liked it.
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