Barcelona star expressed concerns about teammate during Inter clash – ‘Shouldn’t be playing in this condition’ | OneFootball

Injured Barcelona defender Jules Kounde expressed surprise at Robert Lewandowski’s presence on the pitch during their Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, according to Barça Reservat, a podcast from Catalunya Radio.

Kounde, currently out with a thigh injury he sustained in the first leg vs Inter, made an unannounced trip to the Giuseppe Meazza to watch the match in person.

Attempting to remain unnoticed, he covered his head with a hood, but he was recognised on both his outbound and return flights, having travelled on a regular commercial flight like any other fan.

Kounde watched the match from the stands, and Barça Reservat revealed some of the comments he made during the game.

The defender, seated near Joao Felix, currently playing for AC Milan, questioned one of Hansi Flick’s tactical choices.

Lewandowski returned from injury vs Inter Milan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The coach introduced Robert Lewandowski during stoppage time in the second half, just before Inter equalised.

Kounde was surprised by the move, as he believed the Polish striker was not yet fit to return from his recent muscular injury. The Frenchman is believed to have said:

“I don’t know why Lewandowski is playing, he shouldn’t be playing in this condition.”

It must be noted that Lewandowski had been out with an injury for the last two weeks and had received his medical clearance only a day before the trip to Italy.

Initial prognosis suggested that the Barcelona top scorer this season would be out for close to three weeks and as such his return was earlier than anticipated – making Kounde’s concern natural.

Lewandowski was unable to make much of an impact on his return during the extra time and did not manage to create any clear goal-scoring opportunities.