Raphinha and Koundé, from almost guaranteed discards to great stars of Barça

We arrive to the decisive stretch of the season 2023-24 and, for fortune of the FC Barcelona, are exhibiting a sportive level truly flawless. They keep in career by the leadership of LaLiga, an at all simple task, but still conserve the intact hopes. Besides, they follow alive in the Champions League, where the illusion is definitively a lot greater. The combined culé gave a big step at the front when imposing in the meeting of gone of the quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain (2-3), what generates feelings very positive of face to the crossing of turn of this Tuesday 16 April in the Montjuïc and a possible promotion to the semifinals of the tournament.

This remarkable mejoría of the Catalan picture in the last weeks has to , in essence, to that several players that had had an inferior performance to the of the past year have given a necessary step at the front. His improvement to individual level has contributed to the mejoramiento collective of the staff. In this sense, although the increase in the level was notorious in several players, is important to mention two cases in particular: Jules Koundé and Raphinha. These two footballers have been object of a lot of criticisms along the campaign, but at present are being of the best players of the Barcelonan square in his respective positions.

The French experienced a 'bajón' remarkable in a stretch of the season

We begin speaking of the case of Jules Koundé, the one who the past season was vital so that the FC Barcelona had one of the defences less goleadas to European level. It exerted like right side in front of the absence of a player of hierarchy in this side and fulfilled with grow in this position. Nevertheless, it expected that in this course did not have to play regularly in this square because of the arrival of Joãor Cancel, the one who theoretically would be the carrilero right-handed usual. This would allow him finally play like defender, his position preferred, forming a pair of head offices infranqueable beside Ronald Araújo.

In this sense, the period 2023-24 began of way idílica for the Parisian, since it established like defender to complete time and had performances stood out. However, there was a fact that marked his sportive decline: the injury that suffered in the meeting of the first turn against the Granada CF. The exjugador of the Seville returned three weeks afterwards in the party against the Real Sociedad, but did it far of his stellar level. It committed errors in the exit of balloon, lost individual duels of evident way and starred several unlucky actions that finished being invoiceed by the rival groups. These actions did to doubt of his physical state, since it seemed endeble and, the most important, of his mental confidence, since it seemed lacking of security to resolve a lot of played in which previously it showed remarkable solvency.

The 'renacer' defensive of Jules Koundé

Fortunately, for him and for the FC Barcelona, after the announcement of the game of Xavi Hernández and the disaster in the meeting against the Villarreal (3-5), Jules was one of the players that took a step forward beside the team. Although resignado to be lateral right to complete time, the French has gone improving progressively in all his defensive facets. It has turned into a quite reliable side in the one against one, showing physical fortress and difficulties to be dribbled. Also it stands out by his attention in the coverages and in the helps to the central. Besides, to offensive level, has experienced a remarkable growth, showing a greater commitment in offensive tasks. In spite of having to Lamine Yamal in the same side, adventure to the attack in several occasions, being deep when it is necessary and a good centrador.

The '23' also has endowed of personality to the right band of the team culé, as it has seen in the last days. It has confronted successfully to players of renown like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Kylian Mbappé, showing his quality when cancelling them and leaving in clear that the best Koundé is back and promises to keep a level stood out that it ensure him his discussed continuity in the club culé. It is worthwhile to remember that his name was in the centre of the available rumours for the next market of summer, because of the level that was showing and to the interest woken up in other teams of elite that wished to incorporate him to his staff.

The case of Raphinha and the right extreme

Now it suits to speak of the case of Raphinha, whose season expected that it was very different. With the exit of Ousmane Dembélé in the last market of summer to the PSG, seemed that would turn into the right extreme headline and indisputable. In fact, it began the campaign like titling in the commitment against the Getafe CF, what was a clear signal of confidence by part of Xavi Hernández. Nevertheless, his expulsion in this clash and the two back absences in front of the Cádiz and Villarreal opened step to the irruption of Lamine Yamal, the one who showed like an attractive option to occupy the right extreme.

In spite of the apparition of the of Rocafonda, the egarense continued offering opportunities to the exjugador of the Leeds so that it showed his best version, although in a lot of cases did not attain to take advantage of them. In several meetings, showed impetuous and tried to generate differences, but finished being errático and had little luck in the definition between the three sticks, unlike his skills asistidoras, where always has showed good registers. Equally, it suffered a pair of injuries that did it lose 11 parties, what did to think that this could be a course something grey for the one of Carry Cheerful.

The '11' is being vital in the offensive aspirations of the FC Barcelona

However, in the last days with the picture culé, the 11' has left clear his wish to remain in the FC Barcelona. In front of the difficulty to play regularly by the right side, the one of Terrassa has situated it in the left side, and he has known to take advantage of to the maximum this opportunity. It has turned into the left extreme that the Catalan cast needed, converting annotations against the UD The Palms and Paris Saint-Germain, where marked his first two targets in this competition and had a truly stood out meeting. In addition to the so many, has been participatory, breaking in career to the space, asking the balloon and, the most important, showing conclusive in the definition, something that asked him and that showed that it can attain to do.

Raphinha Already has annotated eight goals in this season, approaching to his registers goleadores of the past year, when it did 10 annotations. Also it is near to surpass his figures of assistances in comparison with the previous course, where offered 12 assistances and this period already carries 10. This improvement arrives in a moment timely so much for the FC Barcelona as for him, since rumoreaba that it could be one of the exits in next summer, considering his high value in the market and the offers of other groups. Now it will be necessary to see if it can keep this level stood out during the rest of the season and ensure his continuity in the picture culé for the next campaigns, remembering that has agreement with the club until 2027.