FC Barcelona achieved an important victory against Rayo Vallecano. But there was a key event that caught everyone's attention.
The player in question has been indisputable in Hansi Flick's plans, being one of the most used men by the German coach since his arrival. However, this time, he wasn't part of the starting line-up, something that surprised both the fans and the press.
The subsequent explanations have made it clear that it wasn't a simple technical decision. Rather, it was an internal sanction that once again opens a point of tension in the Barça locker room.
Flick Punishes One of His Untouchables
Since Hansi Flick took the reins of Barça, he has made it clear that discipline is non-negotiable. The players have been warned that certain attitudes won't be tolerated, and one of the aspects in which the coach is most strict is punctuality.
In this regard, it isn't the first time that one of the team's heavyweights receives a punishment for being late. Iñaki Peña already lost his starting position for this reason, and now, the story repeats with another footballer of great importance in the squad.
A Disrespect That Flick Doesn't Forgive
According to Jijantes, Hansi Flick decided to punish this player after a new lack of punctuality. The Barça coach considers it a recurring attitude and didn't want to let the episode pass without consequences.
The affected player stayed on the bench during the match against Rayo Vallecano, although Flick tried to downplay it in a press conference, assuring that it was a technical decision.
However, inside the locker room, the situation is quite different. According to some sources, the player in question hasn't taken the coach's decision well. He has even commented in his circle that he felt humiliated and disrespected by the harshness of the punishment.
Tension in the locker room
The footballer in question is none other than Jules Koundé. The French defender, who has been a key piece in Barça's defense, has once again violated Hansi Flick's punctuality rules. This has cost him a place in the starting eleven.
It isn't the first time Koundé receives this type of sanction. He had already been punished previously for the same reason. This shows that Flick isn't willing to tolerate attitudes that affect the group's discipline.
Sources close to the club assure that the atmosphere between Flick and Koundé isn't the best at the moment. The Frenchman considers the sanction disproportionate, especially because it's an official match and not just a simple training session.
Meanwhile, the German coach remains firm in his stance: respect for the rules is essential and there won't be any favoritism for anyone. Regardless of the name or importance within the team.
This could lead to a new problem in Barça's sports planning.