Hansi Flick defends Marcus Rashford after Barcelona 3-2 Levante | OneFootball

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has moved to launch something of a defence of summer signing Marcus Rashford.

This comes after the Englishman endured an altogether trying first-ever competitive start in the colours of the Blaugrana.

Barcelona of course marked their return to action on Saturday, making the trip to Valencia for a La Liga meeting with Levante.

When all was said and done, Hansi Flick’s troops secured all three points, courtesy of another rousing comeback.

With 45 minutes on the clock, however, Barca found themselves in serious trouble, trailing by two goals to nil.

At this point, Hansi Flick felt it necessary to shake up his XI, hauling the aforementioned Marcus Rashford off for Dani Olmo.

As much allowed Raphinha to return to his natural berth on the wing, key to the visitors’ eventual ‘remontada’.

Speaking to the media post-match, it therefore came as little surprise when the difficult evening endured by the summer addition to his attacking ranks was put to Hansi Flick himself.

And Barcelona’s headmaster made use of the opportunity to defend Rashford, in responding:

“I think Rashford showed in the first-half his potential to help us. We had to change some things in the second half, and Raphinha played as a winger and knew what he had to do. I believe we made the right changes, and when we scored the first goal, it helped us change the match’s scenario.”

Conor Laird – GSFN