Ahead of the UEFA Nations League match between France and Belgium, Jules Koundé attended the pre-match press conference, where he discussed the reasons for his reduced playing time at FC Barcelona, competition within the French squad, and his experience working with Zinedine Zidane. This article covers the first part of the press conference.

Second part of the press conference

Jules Koundé: I need to focus on reducing turnovers and look for opportunities to carry the ball forward and play when space opens up.

As a right-back, you often play in the same position as Achraf Hakimi, and this has become even more apparent since Zinedine Zidane took over. When you play alongside Achraf on the pitch, what impresses you most about him?

What impresses me most is his technical ability and the composure he shows when he has the ball. Beyond that, he's also willing to contribute to the team's efforts. In my view, he's a complete player in every aspect of the game. His finishing is excellent, his passing is excellent, and he makes good decisions with the ball. That's what stands out to me the most.

A quick question: do you and the team get along well with the new coach Zinedine Zidane in daily training? Also, we haven't seen you much since you arrived at Clairefontaine on Monday. There were fewer traditional catwalk moments than usual. How do you feel about that?

For the first question, we get along very well. He's a coach who is very close to the players and enjoys communicating with everyone, both on and off the pitch. His coaching staff is also very approachable and always ready to offer guidance and help us develop. So in that regard, everything is excellent.

As for the second question, to be honest, it hasn't really affected me much. I dress primarily for myself. Of course, it's become an anticipated moment, and it still is. I think many people look forward to it, but for me personally, there hasn't been much of a change. There are still photographers there.

What do you think about this unusually long international break? After experiencing it firsthand, do you think it's beneficial, or do you prefer the old format? What's your opinion?

It's still difficult to analyze because this is the first time and it's not yet over. The truth is, 14 days have passed—14 days, which hasn't happened before. I think playing multiple matches in such a short period is quite demanding. We're fortunate to have a strong squad with good depth, so the coach can rotate players and still see performances from everyone.

To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure. I'm not certain whether I like it or not. It's too early to draw conclusions. But we're here, and being part of the national team is always a joy. We have one more match to play, and we want to finish strong.

If everything goes as expected, you'll face Michy Batshuayi tonight. Is he a player you know well? And I'd also like to ask your thoughts on young Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who joined FC Barcelona this summer. What do you make of his arrival?

For the first question, yes, absolutely. I know him well. He played for Paris Saint-Germain and also plays for the Belgian national team, so we're familiar with each other. He's a very good player. As for Jeremy, he's also a very talented young player. He's a winger who can dribble past defenders, has pace, and has already adapted well to the team. So I think he's a player with high potential. With hard work and time, he can have an excellent career ahead of him.

There are some new faces in this squad who have brought freshness to the team. Regarding competition and the coach's approach of relying on all players, how does he convey this to the team? As a player with a relatively secure position like yourself, do you feel more pressure on your place?

Not at all. I don't feel increased pressure on my position. Competition has always existed within the French national team, and we have a very high-quality group of players. As for the new players, the coach simply asks them to be themselves. They're here for a reason—because they've performed well at their clubs. He simply asks them to bring that form here and play freely.

I think everyone has adapted to the team well. Many of them already know each other—some through the youth teams, some through the clubs they play for. So the adaptation process has been smooth. I think they're all comfortable. For them, the goal is to show what they've demonstrated at their clubs.

Before joining the French national team, your playing time at FC Barcelona decreased. Was this due to an injury we're not aware of, or was it a decision by the Barcelona coach?

It wasn't due to injury. It was a coaching decision. I'm in good physical condition with no injuries. The reduction in playing time is also related to my performance last season. My performance last season fell well below my usual standards. So this is one of the consequences. It's a challenge I'm willing to accept. I need to keep working hard, and that's what I always do. I need to get back to my best form myself, because I know that when I'm at my best, I can hold onto this position and earn playing time.

I have two quick questions. First, about your game: what are your strengths, and in what areas can you develop? Second, I think you can guess what I'm going to ask—the Paris Saint-Germain versus FC Barcelona match is coming up soon. Have you discussed this match with Dembélé and Gueye, or haven't you mentioned it at all?

Regarding my strengths, I'd say it's my determination and aggression on the pitch, particularly in defense. I'm also a player who enjoys defending. As for areas to improve, I think it's more in the attacking side of the game. Technically, there are some things I can work on. I'd say that's an area where I'm putting in a lot of effort.

As for the second question, no, we haven't really discussed it. There's still some time before that match. First, we're all focused on this training camp. Before that, everyone has other matches to play. But we'll have the opportunity to talk about it.

You know Mbappé well. Do you think this training camp, particularly with the arrival of the new coaching staff, has changed him much?

I don't think it has changed him. Mbappé is someone who pays great attention to detail. He trains hard, watches a lot of match footage, and strives for perfection. I'm very happy for him seeing him perform this way. He's played three excellent matches, and we all know his ability and what he can do. So I'm very pleased to see him performing like this.

Over the past few years, your position at right-back in the French national team has been fairly secure. Now there's significant competition for your spot. How do you feel about facing this kind of competition? Does it push you to develop other aspects of your game?

Competition, as I mentioned before, has always been there. I don't know if it's more than before, but it's certainly motivating. In any case, when you come to the French national team, you know you can't rest on past success, and you know nothing comes for free. It's the same at club level.

So it is motivating. Though to be honest, I'm mainly competing with myself. I'm always trying to push myself. I'm always striving to be the best version of myself. That's a good thing. In any case, for the team, competition is beneficial. Sorry, you asked if competition pushes me to develop other aspects of my game.

You mean whether this competition encourages you to develop other areas of your game?

No, not entirely. It's not the competition that drives me to develop other aspects of my game—it's my genuine desire to become a better player.

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