Barça’s Rashford benched, late arrival unclear

Marcus Rashford was left out of Barcelona’s starting lineup for their 3-0 LaLiga victory over Getafe on Sunday, following his two-goal performance against Newcastle United in the Champions League midweek.

The 27-year-old forward signed a four-year contract with Barcelona this summer for an initial fee reported to be around €58 million, with potential add-ons increasing the total value. His omission from the squad fueled speculation that a late arrival at the team’s activation session on matchday was the cause. While a source confirmed Rashford was marginally late, coach Hansi Flick declined to directly link this to his absence, emphasizing instead the need for squad rotation given the team’s demanding fixture schedule.

Flick, known for his strict discipline regarding punctuality, reiterated his commitment to maintaining high professional standards. He highlighted that with matches every three to four days, managing player freshness is a priority: “It’s normal, because every three or four days we have a match. We also need fresh legs on the pitch.” This stance follows a similar situation last weekend when Raphinha was benched for arriving late to a session.

Rashford’s profile as a forward combines pace, composure, and clinical finishing, traits that Barcelona intend to integrate into their attacking system under Flick’s management. His arrival was seen as a strategic reinforcement designed to boost goal-scoring options and add pressing resistance upfront. However, the coach’s rotation approach reflects a broader squad management strategy rather than disciplinary action alone.

For Barcelona, maintaining discipline and squad harmony will be essential as they pursue domestic and European success. Rashford’s continued adaptation to LaLiga’s tactical demands and Flick’s methodologies will determine his long-term influence on the team’s offensive potency.