Marcus Rashford’s pre-season debut for Barcelona was cut short after just 33 minutes in their 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe. Manager Hansi Flick explains why the Manchester United loanee is still adjusting to his new team.
Hansi Flick has explained why he decided to substitute Marcus Rashford after just 33 minutes during his pre-season debut for Barcelona in the club’s 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe on Saturday.
Rashford, who joined Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United, was brought on at half-time but was withdrawn in the 78th minute as the German manager revealed the 27-year-old is still working to catch up with his teammates. Flick made it clear that the decision was driven by a desire to manage Rashford’s transition carefully as he integrates into his new environment.
“We want to look after him,” said Flick, acknowledging that Rashford is a week behind in his fitness compared to his Barcelona teammates. “He hasn’t been training as much with the ball, and we want to make sure he’s ready to be fully involved.”
Barcelona fans, however, were pleased with Rashford’s contributions during his brief cameo, particularly his defensive work. The Catalan side’s comfortable victory was sealed with goals from Eric Garcia, youngster Roony Bardghji, and academy prospect Pedro Fernandez.
Flick’s Vision for Barcelona’s Pre-Season Preparation
While Barcelona’s overall performance was deemed successful by Flick, who praised the first 30 minutes of play as “fantastic,” he noted that his team lost some control in the latter stages of the match. Nevertheless, Flick expressed satisfaction with his side’s progress, stating, “It’s a very good match, a good test for us… the second half was also very good. I’m pleased.”
The match served as an opportunity for Flick to assess his squad’s ability to press and play with the ball, something he feels Barcelona has clearly developed under his management.
Rashford’s Integration at Barcelona
The 27-year-old forward, now playing in La Liga on a season-long loan with a €30 million option to buy, will be looking to build up his fitness ahead of Barcelona’s season opener against Mallorca on August 16. Rashford’s pre-season minutes will be crucial as he works to get up to speed with his new teammates, but with three more games before the start of the campaign, he will have ample opportunity to do so.
