Even Rashford Is No Exception to Flick's Iron Fist at Barcelona

Appearing as the hero of Barcelona's victory over Newcastle United did not secure Marcus Rashford's position. The scorer of two winning goals for Barca surprisingly did not make the starting lineup when Barca defeated Getafe, 3-0, in the Spanish League match at Johan Cruyff Stadium, Monday (22/9/2025) early morning WIB. Hansi Flick penalized Rashford for arriving late to the morning training session before the match.

Rashford only played in the second half after replacing Raphinha on the right wing. Flick's decision to bench Rashford for half of the match sparked discourse considering his contribution when Barca defeated Newcastle in the UEFA Champions League.

Using a 4-2-3-1 formation, the quartet of Barcelona's front line is filled by Robert Lewandowski as the spearhead. The Polish striker is supported by Ferran Torres on the left wing, Dani Olmo as the attacking midfielder, and Raphinha on the right wing.

The absence of Rashford in the starting lineup of Barca is a result of Flick's punishment. Rashford was reported to have arrived late for the team's training session on the morning before the match.

During his tenure as coach of Barca, Flick implemented a strict policy of not playing players who were late from the start of the match. A similar fate was experienced by Jules Kounde, Inaki Pena, and Raphinha. The case of Raphinha is the most recent.

The Brazilian player was late to join the training, resulting in him being benched during the match against Valencia. Like Rashford, Raphinha was then brought on in the second half and managed to score two goals.

Flick's iron fist does not recognize exceptions for star players or those who are performing well. As long as they do not adhere to the team's regulations, the penalty of not receiving playing time will await them.

Flick has repeatedly emphasized that his players must perform as a team. He does not tolerate tardiness as it is considered a form of disrespect towards teammates.

“(Player rotation) is normal because we compete every three or four days. We need fresh players on the field,” said Flick when asked about his decision not to include Rashford as a starting player, as quoted from BBC Sport.

Flick's punishment is a common action that any coach can take. Every player is still an ordinary human who can make mistakes. However, the punishment given to Rashford is quite unique considering he is a player favored by Flick.

At a time when other teams were reluctant to utilize Rashford's services due to disciplinary issues, Flick remained the one who believed in the potential of the 27-year-old player. He was the figure who encouraged Barca's Sporting Director Deco to recruit Rashford.

Barca's approach has yielded results with an agreement to loan Rashford from Manchester United for one season. If he performs well, there is potential for Rashford to be permanently signed by Barca.

Flick seems to overlook Rashford's past, which is marked by instances of indiscipline. Rashford is known to have partied late at a nightclub in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while MU was facing Newport in the FA Cup.

As a result, Rashford was not played by the then Manchester United manager, Erik Ten Hag. Rashford was also not played during the victory against Wolves in 2022 due to arriving late, which caused him to miss the team meeting.

At Barca, Flick seems intent on helping Rashford rediscover his best form. Thus, the punishment of not being included in the starting lineup is hoped to serve as a reminder for Rashford regarding his goal at Barca to regain his top performance.

Moreover, after his brilliant performance against Newcastle, Flick openly expressed his support for Rashford. It is only fitting for Rashford to respond to that trust not only by performing well on the field but also by adhering to discipline as a form of mutual respect.

Although not reinforced by Rashford from the start, Barcelona was still able to perform dominantly. Barcelona had a ball possession rate of 71 percent and made seven shots on target. The "Blaugrana" had already taken a two-goal lead in the first half through Ferran. In the second half, Dani Olmo extended Barcelona's lead to 3-0.

Getafe, which intended to end Barcelona's positive trend, was unable to do much. The team from the southern part of Madrid, Spain, was thoroughly dictated by Barcelona with a high defensive line. Under significant pressure, the players of Getafe had no choice but to focus on strengthening their defense.

"Barcelona is a team that can play as they please. They have great players in every position, capable of combining ball possession, playing in open spaces, and executing counterattacks. We, this season, are very limited and can only do our best," said Getafe Coach Jose Bordalas.