Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has clarified why Marcus Rashford’s debut for the club lasted only 33 minutes during their 3-1 preseason victory over Vissel Kobe on Saturday.
The England international, on loan from Manchester United, was brought on at halftime but withdrawn with just over ten minutes remaining in the match.
Rashford, 27, is still playing catch-up with his fitness and integration into the team. Flick revealed that the forward is “a week behind” his new teammates in terms of training intensity and match sharpness.
The decision to substitute him early was purely precautionary, as the coaching staff aims to ease him into the squad without risking injury.
Despite his short cameo, Rashford impressed with his defensive work rate and willingness to adapt to the team’s system. Barcelona fans were encouraged by his effort, even if he didn’t have much time to contribute offensively.
The match itself saw goals from Eric Garcia, rising star Roony Bardghji, and academy product Pedro Fernandez as Barça cruised to victory.
Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United earlier this summer, with the Spanish giants holding an option to buy him for €30 million.
The deal provides a fresh start for the forward after a turbulent period at Old Trafford, and he is expected to play a significant role in Barcelona’s upcoming campaign, provided he reaches full match fitness in time.
Flick expressed satisfaction with the overall team performance in the friendly, praising the players’ pressing and control in the early stages of the match. “The first 30 minutes were fantastic,” he said. “After that, we lost a bit of control, but the second half was also very good. I’m pleased.”
Rashford will now target Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16 as his first competitive appearance. He still has three more preseason games, against FC Seoul, Toyo University, and one more unconfirmed fixture, to build match sharpness and make his case for a starting role.
