Kounde talks Vinicius, Flick, Xavi, Real Madrid, El Clasico – ‘Biggest game in the world’ | OneFootball

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is gearing up with full confidence for the upcoming El Clasico clash, one of the sport’s biggest showdowns.

He highlighted the intensity of this game, emphasising how crucial it is for Barcelona to bring home all three points. For Kounde, El Clasico is not only a marquee event but a testament to the level of skill and commitment required to compete at the highest level.

“El Clasico is one of the biggest games, or maybe the biggest game in the world, and we will go to win and bring the 3 points to Barcelona,” the defender said in an interview with SportyTV.

Kounde vs Vinicius

Kounde is excited to play against Vinicius. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

As Barcelona face Real Madrid, Kounde will go head-to-head with Vinicius Jr., a formidable opponent and one of the best attackers in the world right now.

Despite the Brazilian’s strong reputation and undeniable talent, Kounde views facing him as a positive challenge rather than a threat. He explained that playing against top-level talents like Vinicius is part of why he loves the game.

“He is definitely a top candidate for the Ballon d’Or and one of the best players but for me, this is a challenge. This is also why I play football, I love playing against the best, and Saturday’s game is no exception,” he noted.

He knows that containing Vinicius requires a collective team effort, especially as he is relentless in his approach and capable of turning the game around in a flash.

“He is probably the biggest threat, but they have other players. It’s a team full of talent, players who can decide games almost single-handedly.

“Vinicius is not a player you can stop on your own, especially for 90 minutes. He doesn’t stop, and there will definitely be moments when I need help.”

Kounde sees this as a motivating factor, bringing out the best in him and his teammates as they plan to hold Madrid’s attackers at bay.

“That’s normal because, in the end, it’s a team sport. It’s a challenge because I’ll be in his area most of the time, but it’s also a team effort, and I’m sure we’ll do a good job,” he explained.

Hansi Flick vs Xavi

Kounde explains the difference between Flick and Xavi. (Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)

Under new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, Kounde believes the team’s style has taken on a more intense and direct approach compared to previous strategies.

“The team still maintains Barcelona’s traditional high defensive line but with an added sense of urgency and higher pressing.

There are some similar concepts, like playing with a high defensive line, this season we play a little higher, but Barcelona have always played with a high defensive line,” he explained.

Flick’s clear philosophy has helped Barcelona focus on keeping their shape, no matter who they face, and the squad seems fully attuned to his vision.

“The coach has a clear philosophy, it doesn’t matter who we play against, we will always play the same way, he knows what he wants and I think the team understands that very well.”

There’s now an even stronger emphasis on pressing high up the field, which Kounde credits to the hard work of the forwards. Their efforts enable Barcelona to push play into advanced areas, creating more scoring chances and keeping opponents under pressure.

“Playing this type of football requires you to be at your best because it requires a lot of effort but the team understands that this effort brings rewards, especially from the forward players who do a great job of pressing,” he noted.

Real Madrid’s form

Jules Kounde is ready to face Real Madrid. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

It must be noted that Real Madrid enter the fixture fresh off a spirited comeback against Dortmund, and Kounde acknowledges their knack for finding a way to win, even when not at their best.

“It’s more exciting. We watched the game and we saw what happened, this is what Real Madrid does, a team that knows how to win.”

This quality has allowed them to succeed repeatedly, and Kounde understands that Barcelona must capitalise on every opportunity.

“I think that’s Real Madrid’s biggest advantage in recent seasons, sometimes they play well and sometimes not but they always find a way to win. We expect that and we know it will be a difficult match.”

Against Real Madrid, small moments and missed chances can be the difference between victory and defeat, especially with Madrid’s ability to turn the tide quickly.

“When you have chances, especially against Madrid, you have to take them because they always find a way to decide the game.

“They also have talented players who can decide the game almost by themselves, so we have to give our best to win.”

For Kounde, this fixture is not about fear or hesitation. Instead, it’s an opportunity for Barcelona to show their quality, maintain their tactical discipline, and push for a victory that reinforces their growing momentum.