Just days after making headlines for his Champions League brace against Newcastle, Marcus Rashford was again in the spotlight, though this time for less favorable reasons.
Instead of building on his standout performance, the British winger was left dealing with another setback.
Hansi Flick dropped him to the bench after he showed up late to training, an issue that had followed him during his time at Manchester United.
Despite starting on the bench, Rashford made a significant impact by assisting Barcelona’s third goal in their 3-0 victory, leading to different assessments in the Spanish press.
How Hansi Flick has handled Marcus Rashford
The Barcelona boss has spoken positively about the 27-year-old since his arrival, recognising the forward’s potential to change games when he is playing with confidence.
But that has not translated into special treatment. Despite starring in the team’s previous match, he still found himself on the bench against Getafe.
The manager did give him a chance to make amends, bringing him on at half-time for Raphinha.
Rashford did not waste it. He set up Dani Olmo’s goal to seal a 3-0 win, and both player and club will hope this episode is soon forgotten.
This also reinforced what Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim had already learned about Rashford: his preference for playing off the left flank rather than as a central striker.
After experimenting with him as a forward – something Thomas Tuchel was not keen on – Flick now seems more open to keeping him wider, though not fully committed to ruling out a central role either.
The manager noted after the game: “We decided to bring Marcus in. He can also play on the right, but I think he prefers to play as a number 11 or as a number 9.”
Spanish media responds to Rashford’s latest performance
Even after being dropped for turning up late, Rashford still made an impact off the bench, and the Spanish media noticed that too.
Mundo Deportivo first reported his training issue, but Marca described him as the “main character” at Barcelona – a bold statement given the squad depth there.
They also noted that he did not appear bothered by the punishment and stayed sharp once introduced.
AS focused on Flick’s comments about Rashford not being left out for disciplinary reasons but rather due to rotation.
Spanish Sports Illustrated highlighted his ability to score twice in games this season, while Mundo Deportivo praised his assist for Olmo, saying he quickly put his earlier mistake behind him.
Barcelona’s attacking options could be further limited if Fermin Lopez’s injury proves serious.
This might open the door for Rashford to gain more playing time and assert himself over the coming weeks, beginning with their match against Real Oviedo on Thursday, 25 September.
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