Hansi Flick explains why one Barcelona player has not seen many minutes in recent weeks | OneFootball

One strange development in recent weeks from an FC Barcelona perspective has been the diminished role of Marcus Rashford. The Englishman has not seen many minutes and has been an unused substitute in important games.

His reduced role in recent weeks has inevitably raised questions, especially because the drop in minutes came at a point in the season when Barcelona need depth and quality from every attacking option. Rashford has looked very good whenever he has been given a chance too.

Hansi Flick, though, has now offered a clear explanation, and it is a much simpler one than any debate about trust or long-term plans. As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, here is what the German manager said about the forward’s lack of minutes:

From a Barcelona perspective, this was not Flick freezing out Rashford or losing faith in him. It was simply a case of management, protecting a player who was not fully fit and avoiding a bigger problem in the middle of a demanding stretch.

Rashford is the kind of attacker who depends heavily on sharpness, acceleration and confidence in his body. If there is even a small physical issue, his impact drops quickly, so managing him carefully makes more sense than forcing minutes just to keep up appearances.

For Barcelona, the timing is important as well. If Rashford really is “back at one hundred percent”, then Flick may once again have a valuable option for the decisive weeks ahead, whether from the start or off the bench. With the schedule tightening, that could make a real difference.

Rashford has the ability to change games out of nothing. We will have to wait and see whether he regains his prominence in the team in the coming weeks and months.