Flick delighted as Rashford shows dents Newcastle’s Champions League hopes | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has praised Marcus Rashford after he helped the club secure a Champions League victory tonight.

The 27-year-old forward scored twice in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United in their opening group stage match on Tuesday night.

Rashford, who joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester United, showed flashes of his old form.

Flick told TNT Sports: “I expected that, but I’m really happy for him. He did not have an easy time over the last few years.

“I’ve followed him since he played football, and I was always asking ‘what kind of player is he’?

“He showed it in training. For me, it’s the next step. The confidence he’s got from these two goals, maybe he can make the next step.”

Rashford finally makes an impact on the big stage

Rashford was underwhelming in the first half, but stepped things up after the break to lead Barcelona to victory.

For a player who has endured challenging seasons in recent years, this performance suggested a new start.

The win has set a positive tone for Barcelona, who are determined to improve on their semi-final exit last season.

Rashford’s performance at St James’ Park was promising, but he needs to demonstrate he can consistently reach this level.

His poor performances for United are still fresh in the memory, and he has a lot to prove with Barcelona this term.