Why Marcus Rashford Was Substituted 30 Minutes After Coming On in Barcelona Debut
- Marcus Rashford finally made his Barcelona debut, but he only played 30 minutes as a substitute before he was taken off
- The English international joined the Spanish giants last week on loan from Manchester United
- Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explained why the winger was taken off despite coming on as a second-half substitute
Marcus Rashford finally made his long-awaited debut for Barcelona but was taken off early by coach Hansi Flick.
Source: Getty Images
Last week, Rashford completed his loan move from Manchester United and made his first appearance for the La Liga champions against Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
Did Barcelona give Rashford biggest humiliation?
Rashford was brought on at the start of the second half but was withdrawn in the 78th minute. They say it is the biggest humiliation a footballer can experience: coming on as a substitute and then being taken off.
The match, which was initially suspended, was won by Barcelona, who registered a 3-1 victory. The England international played a crucial role in one of Barcelona's goals.
The 27-year-old had played 17 games in six months after he was sent out on loan by Man United. He was training alone before joining Barcelona.
Why did Hansi Flick take Marcus Rashford early?
After the game, Barcelona boss Flick appeared to say Rashford was rusty.
"Rashford hasn't played that much, and we also wanted to give Gerard Martin 15 minutes because he was playing after his injury," the Barcelona manager explained.
The Man United academy product said Flick was one of the reasons he joined Barcelona.
""Hansi Flick is another key factor in the reason I'm here," Rashford said after his move to Barcelona. "The conversations I had with him were very positive and what he did last year was a terrific season, but not just last year. In his career he has proved he is one of the top coaches."
Source: Getty Images
Will Rashford's competitive Barcelona debut be delayed?
Barcelona have had issues registering players in the last few seasons due to La Liga rules. Rashford has not been registered but can still play in non-competitive matches.
According to BBC Sport, Barcelona are already over the salary cap. Last season, they spent more on salaries and transfers than their revenue.
Barcelona have faced financial issues in recent years, and it remains to be seen if they will register Rashford before their opening match of the season on August 16.
Rashford has struggled for the last two seasons and will need to be in top form to become a starter. He will battle for a starting position with Ballon d'Or contenders Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Barcelona release statement after Rashford's debut
The Blaugrana were forced to apologise to their fans after their livestream for the game failed on the Culers App.
"The club apologises for the inconvenience caused during the broadcast of the game against Vissel Kobe. FC Barcelona's streaming platforms received an attack of large proportions from various pages attempting to capture the live feed of the preseason game against Vissel Kobe."
"As a result of this avalanche of requests, the system engaged the pertinent security mechanisms, which then affected the broadcast on the website and the Culers App."
"Straightaway, the decision was taken to offer the game free on the Clubs' YouTube platform to guarantee the broadcast of the game. The club apologises for the inconvenience caused and will be in contact with all those people affected."
Barcelona's next games
After Kobe, Flick's side will play Seoul in South Korea, where Rashford will meet his friend Jesse Lingard.
Their tour East will continue with a game against Daegu before returning to Spain to play Como at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Como is currently coached by their former player, Cesc Fabregas.
They begin their title defence against Mallorca on August 16.
Why is Rivaldo warning Marcus Rashford?
In a related story, TUKO.co.ke reported that Barcelona legend Rivaldo sent a subtle warning to Rashford following his move.
The Ballon d'Or winner said the England star will have to battle for a starting spot, and the bench might be his starting point.
He stressed that Raphinha will be the starting player and Rashford will have to earn his spot.
Martin Moses, the head of sports, contributed to this article by adding details about Barcelona's next games.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
