Headline: Jules Koundé Faces Extended Injury Layoff Ahead of International Break
In Barcelona, a minor injury scare for defender Jules Koundé has escalated into a more serious issue. Initially injured on October 17 against Real Betis, Koundé was expected to miss only one week of action. The coaching staff had even entertained the prospect of his return in time for the highly anticipated El Clásico. However, as time passes, the situation has not improved, with Koundé unable to don his boots due to severe pain in his left ankle, as reported by the newspaper Sport.
Koundé has now been ruled out of upcoming fixtures against PSG, Real Madrid, Alavés, and Aston Villa. Experts have advised an abundance of caution given the risk of a setback, and Hansi Flick, the team manager, reportedly does not anticipate Koundé returning before the end of the upcoming international break.
Koundé Out Again
As a result, Koundé will miss the match against Atlético de Madrid, marking his fifth consecutive game sidelined. This extended absence rules him out of contention for the France national team, which will face Turkey and Italy in the international break. Accordingly, Zinedine Zidane will have to adjust his strategy without his first-choice right-back.
This setback is particularly frustrating for Koundé, who finds himself at a critical stage in the season. In Zidane’s inaugural match, Koundé had to share playing time with Pierre Kalulu, despite having been a consistent starter prior to his injury. This situation may prompt the new coach to experiment with different options on the right flank, as Koundé joins established absentees William Saliba and Maxence Lacroix in the defensive lineup.
