Flick backs Rashford to fill Yamal's boots in Barcelona's Champions League return

17 Sep 2025, 17:43 · CNA · Join

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - FC Barcelona Training - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - September 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Marcus Rashford during training Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group E - Turkey v Spain - Konya Buyuksehir Arena, Konya, Turkey - September 7, 2025 Spain's Lamine Yamal REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - March 17, 2024 FC Barcelona's Alejandro Balde before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is counting on Marcus Rashford to step up when the Catalans begin their Champions League campaign against Newcastle on Thursday, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal sidelined by injury.

Rashford, who delivered an assist in Barcelona's stunning 6-0 thrashing of Valencia on Sunday, has caught the eye of his German coach since arriving from Manchester United.

"I really follow Marcus (Rashford) since he started with Manchester United. And I always said, 'Wow! What a player he is!'," Flick told reporters at Wednesday's press conference in Newcastle.

"He has speed, but also, in one-against-one situations, it's really fantastic. And also finishing, it's unbelievable.

Subscribe to CNA's Recommended Read
A single handpicked story that we think you shouldn't miss. Just one a day.

This service is not intended for persons residing in the E.U. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp’s partners.
Loading

"What I saw from him in the first weeks here, it’s very good. And I think also he still has potential to show us more."

Yamal, who started the season strongly with two goals and two assists in LaLiga, will miss Thursday's clash due to a hip injury on international duty with Spain. The 17-year-old may also be doubtful for Sunday's match against Getafe.

Barcelona will also be without Alejandro Balde and Gavi, plus long-term absentee Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though Frenkie de Jong is available for selection.

"We all know that Lamine (Yamal) is not playing against Newcastle, maybe not on Sunday (against Getafe)," Flick said. "But at the end, we have a strong team and in his position we have Marcus Rashford. If someone up front cannot play, he can step up and play like he showed on Sunday against Valencia. That is how good he is. I hope that he can show in England the same performance he did on Sunday."

The German coach remains confident about his team's Champions League prospects despite facing stiff competition. "I'm not thinking about who the favourite is (to win the Champions League this season). There are some very good teams, mainly coming from the Premier League," he said.

"What we saw against Valencia was very positive. We are playing well in all areas. With this confidence, it is important to play tomorrow. They are very strong, but we are confident."

Flick backs Rashford to fill Yamal's boots in Barcelona's Champions League return

Recommended Read

Sign up for our newsletters

Get the CNA app