Recruited for 25 million euros last summer, this young central defender unknown in La Liga had raised big doubts among the supporters ... A year later, the answer is there: Koundé has asserted himself as one of the best in the championship at his post, to the point of attracting the attention of the biggest clubs in Europe. His afro hair encircled with a band and his unstoppable defensive activity forged his reputation: Jules Koundé, best player of the Girondins in Ligue 1 during the 2018-2019 season, now trains with the Brazilian Diego Carlos (spent last summer of Nantes to Seville for € 15 million) one of the most airtight and most highly rated young pairs of exchanges in Europe.
"I'm staying here next year, I want to discover the Champions League"
“I'm staying here next year, I want to discover the Champions League. I am very happy here, I do not look elsewhere. I want to stay here ”, assured the ex-Girondin who dreams after the victory in the semi-final against Manchester United, thus sweeping the rumors of departure towards more upscale clubs like Real Madrid. In Seville, under the orders of Julen Lopetegui, Koundé found a squad cut out to make him discover the very high European level, without skipping the stages.
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Despite a rather ordinary physique for a central defender (1.84 m, 70 kg), Koundé made everyone agree with his seriousness and his defensive application, to the point of becoming a centerpiece of the Andalusian playing system. Sevilla have conceded twelve goals and four of the team's six defeats this season out of the nine games they have been absent from this season. Without him, the Sevillians have gleaned only three small victories against the modest Granada, Alavés and Eibar.
“The secret is that we work a lot. It's a collective job, not just the goalkeeper or the defense, ”said the young central defender in an interview with Marca , Spain's best-selling newspaper, on Saturday. “We are very well balanced. We always try to push very high, it's fundamental in our game. And if we can't do it, we regroup in a low block and we fight. In the end, there is not a player who does not work. We don't give our opponents a chance to score, at least that's the feeling we're trying to convey. "
“From the first European match we played in September, we had in mind to win this cup. They say it's our cup ”
Jules KoundéThe final against Inter Milan in Cologne (Germany) on Friday evening had long been checked in the agenda of the player born in Paris. “From the first European match we played in September, we had in mind to win this cup. They say it's our cup. It is a very special title for the club and the supporters. Every time we start this competition, Seville's objective is to win it, ”he argues, while the Andalusian club holds the record for victories in C3 (5 coronations).
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This gala match will also be an opportunity for Koundé to show Didier Deschamps that he has his place in the France A team, which he does not yet know ... Already ranked among the best centers in Europe at 21, however, he still wants to progress in his head game, especially offensive. "I hope I will score in the remaining matches," said the center-back. He has more than one meeting, a final Friday night in Cologne, to continue to amaze Europe ... with or without a goal.
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