Rashford thriving in Barcelona sunshine: Flick
Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on November 24, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
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Barcelona
manager Hansi Flick said on Monday Marcus Rashford is benefiting from a change
of scene -- including sunny skies in Spain -- following his loan move from boyhood
club Manchester United.
The
England forward has recovered from the flu that kept him out of Saturday's 4-0
La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao and is available for Tuesday's meeting with
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Four of
Rashford's six Barca goals so far have come in the Champions League, including
two on the team's previous visit to England to face Newcastle in September.
The move
to Spain has helped Rashford, 28, resurrect a career that had stalled badly at
Old Trafford.
"I'm
happy to have him in the team, playing for Barca," Flick said on Monday.
"I've followed him throughout his whole career and I've always been
impressed by his quality and what he can do in the box, and he's showing that
in Barcelona.
"That
change for him, new football, in Barcelona, with good weather. For me it's
incredible to see how he's always smiling. That's the atmosphere we have and
it's very good for him."
Barca
and Chelsea are level on seven points after four matches in this season's
Champions League as they seek direct qualification to the last 16, which
requires a top-eight finish.
Flick's
task will be aided by the return from injury of Raphinha, who made his first
appearance in almost two months as a substitute in Saturday's win.
"Step
by step with Raphinha," said Flick. "For me, the important thing is
that he's back. About the minutes and how much he will play, we'll decide.
"He's
had the same injury twice and that's not good at this stage, so we'll be
careful.
"I'm
very happy that he returned because as soon as he played on Saturday, we saw
the difference. The dynamism, he created spaces and I'm very happy to have
him."


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