Pedri, already with “ramps”, as he confessed later, was exhausted on the bench, while Iñigo Martínez He had no energies and less in the new role entrusted to him Flick. “The myister put me on the left side and I had no strength left to stop the counterattacks of Madrid,” the Basque defense also tired at the time when the final of the Copa del Rey was aimed at the penalty shootout.
And Koundé? Where was it? What did the right side stealing a ball for the central lane of Madrid? In theory, and in practice, it was not his natural place. The most resistant player of the Barça squad appeared there.
The type that is so unpunctual -flick has relegated it to the substitution for being late up to three times to tactical talks – as a timely to transform into the hero of the cup.
It will be remembered the 'flying pigeon' of Marcos Alonso that fought Madrid in La Romareda as that 'Koundenian' toe. A precise, hard, dry, poisonous right -To every centimeter that slid down the Sevillian grass was moving away from Courtois– That placed him, and forever, in Barca memory.
“The problem with Koundé is that if one day we do 30 minutes less training, it will then run to Sitges. Maybe for me it is best to run on the pitch”
“It has been to the limit, to the limit … we were very tired,” said the former player of Sevilla. And he says it, someone who never stops running if he attends what his coach says. “The problem with Koundé is that if one day we do 30 minutes less training you will then run to Sitges. Maybe for me it is best to run on the pitch,” the German came to say just a week ago.
Koundé celebrates his goal, Barça 3-2 to Madrid, along with Fermín and Pau Víctor in La Cartuja. / EFE / JULIO MUÑOZ
And the central who did not want to be a right side became the cartuja, disguised as an explorer, a symbol of Barça de Flick, a team that defends forward. He does not step back because he understands that there is no better way to protect himself than to attack the rival as close to his home.
Hence the uniqueness of a capital player in the second Barca title of the course, capable of making his coach in the Cartuja when he threw an easy ball and without opposition almost giving a corner kick. But Koundé got up with a second part of the majestic extension just when the others were physically annihilated. He, no.
Majestic and not only because of the goal that enthrones him in the sentimental heritage culé. Majestic because his defensive contribution was as valuable as that unforgettable shot from the balcony of the Courtois area.
Minutes 105: Comfortable from the side to Araujo. Security pass.
M, 106: The French wins an aerial duel to Brahim.
M. 109: Long pass to Gavi that did not reach its destination because Güler anticipated.
And the best, as Flick later recalled, was yet to come. He did not refer only the technician to the shot that the Cup gave to Barça.
M. 111: Long pass from Tchouámeni, already as a central one after Rüdiger, towards Fran García. But Jules crosses and clears his head.
M. 113: Güler, lying on the left flank, delicately serves a harmful center that invades the Szczesny area. Bellingham prepares that ball, but then Koundés' body appears to bother, avoiding any penalty possibility, the jump of English. Jude does not arrive. Nor Mbappé to that ball. Araujo congratulates his partner of the rear to know how to defend with the body.
M. 114: Madrid attacks by the right wing and Güler, who entered great in the final, a superb center with his right -handed leg for another appearance of Bellingham is invented. When English was about to finish, Koundé's left boot appears and signs another magnificent defensive action.
M. 114 and 23 seconds: Band out of Barça on the left side of your attack. Raphinha takes his time to launch it, while Fran García and Lamine Yamal coincide in the same gesture. Both stretch the same leg, the left. The wear is monumental. Take advantage of that Flick break to make the last change: Pau Victor for scorer Ferran Torres.
M 115 and 10 seconds: Raphinha goes to the white area and who takes out is Iñigo Martínez. There are eight players from Madrid very close to Courtois. Koundé does not even come out on the television plane. Modric Rebaña the ball to the Basque Central after a bad pass from the Brazilian and starts the attack play. The Croatian detects the figure of Brahim, who is only aware of the ball without intuiting what was going to happen seconds later.
“It is a play in which I see Modric who is going to take the pass. I anticipate and do good control. I saw that I had Lamine Yamal on my right, but it was time to Chutar”
M. 115 and 19 seconds: The right side of Barça transformed into a midfield appears at that time. Why was it there? Because Flick asks his defenses to go to the end of the world if necessary to press and steal the ball.
M 115 and 21 seconds. Theft and goal. A touch to get ahead of Brahim and another to overcome the gigantic Courtois. In two seconds, Jules puts the hero of the Cup. Modric and Brahim cross reproaches while Barcelona celebrates a goal that gives a Copa del Rey.
“It is a play in which I see Modric who is going to take the pass. I anticipate and do good control. I saw Lamine Yamal on my right, but it was time to Chutar,” he confessed later. And he shot with such determination that he felt Madrid running Koundé as if he were already on his way to Sitges.
