Jules Kounde: 'We know we have to improve'

Barça central defender Jules Kounde is a key component of the blaugranes' rearguard and therefore in a good position to analyse the team's current situation.

The French international appeared in a press conference on Monday ahead of his team's game on Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in Hamburg, kick off 6.45pm CET, and reflected on recent performances against Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. "The dressing room is fine but we know we have to improve. We want to win tomorrow because it is an important game and we have to be at our best," said Kounde in front of the media. 

In October Barça beat Shakhtar 2-1 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, a game that Kounde admitted was for from easy. "In the second half they caused us some problems and scored. In the end it was not the performance that we wanted but tomorrow we will try put in a more complete game," admitted the Frenchman. 

"I think during games we need to be more focused. On a defensive level, at times we are too open and we are conceding more than last season. That is something we are working on, the team has brought in new players and we are still a young team with room to improve to we have work on some details." 

His position on the field 

Kounde confessed that he prefers to play at centre back rather than right back where he mainly featured last season. "I am happy because I am playing in my position. It's true that last season I played a lot of games at right back but I am always there for the boss. At centre back I can bring more to the team and I am more comfortable but I would never refuse to play at right back," revealed the defender. 

Recovery from injury 

The blaugrana number 23 said he had made a complete recovery from the knee injury that kept him out recently for close on a month. Kounde denied he had returned too quickly to win his place back in the starting line up: "Often a time frame is given when a player gets injured but I felt good and I worked really hard to come back as soon as possible and I felt comfortable - it had nothing to do with competition in the team."