Barcelona defender Kounde addressed his reduced playing time at the club this season during a French national team press conference, clarifying that he has no injury issues. He attributed the decrease in minutes to a technical decision by head coach Flick and acknowledged his own underperformance last season.

On Sunday, ahead of France's Nations League match against Belgium, Kounde spoke to reporters about his limited opportunities at Barcelona. He said: "I don't have any injuries. This is a decision by the coach. It's also a result of my performance last season, because I was playing below my own standards."

Rather than making excuses, Kounde expressed his determination to meet the challenge and work his way back into the starting lineup.

He said: "This is a challenge I'm willing to take on. I need to get back to my best form, because I know that when I'm at my best, I'll get playing time."

With Flick rotating the defense more heavily, Kounde has lost the almost unshakeable starting position he held for most of the previous seasons.

In contrast to his situation at Barcelona, Kounde remains a key player for France. He has become the team's vice-captain and increased his influence in the dressing room since Zidane took over as coach.

On the new national team manager, Kounde offered praise: "He is a coach who is very close to the players. He communicates with us frequently, both on and off the field."

Kounde also noted that Zidane's coaching staff is actively engaged in offering advice and helping players develop. While hesitant to directly compare Zidane with his predecessors, he did offer insight into the new coach's tactical approach.

"He wants us to be a proactive and aggressive team," Kounde said.

Zidane also emphasizes controlling the tempo of matches through possession. Kounde believes this tactical approach will help him address some of his weaknesses in the game.

He said: "I still need to reduce unforced errors when I'm on the ball. I can also be more direct in my passing and improve my ability to push forward."

Kounde revealed that Zidane has encouraged him to contribute more offensively at appropriate moments, though he noted this is not the first time he has received such tactical instruction.

On competition within the French squad, Kounde said that despite rising rivals, he does not feel a particular threat to his position.

He said: "There has always been competition in the French national team because we have so many high-level players. I'm not sure competition is more intense now than before, but competition itself is motivating. For me, the biggest competition is actually with myself."

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