Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick chose not to start Marcus Rashford on Sunday evening after the forward arrived late for training. He was expected to feature in the La Liga clash with Getafe but his manager revealed he decided to axe the England star. Just days after netting a superb double against Newcastle in the Champions League, Rashford seemed to be reviving his career in Catalonia.
Nevertheless, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo reports that Rashford turned up late for the squad’s morning briefing before the training session ahead of Sunday’s match. Flick reportedly made it clear to Rashford that lateness would not be accepted, delivering the 27-year-old a comparable sanction previously imposed on Jules Kounde, Inaki Pena and Raphinha for violating the same regulation.
Ferran Torres was instead selected in the starting eleven, with the Manchester United loanee amongst the replacements.
It did not mark the first occasion that Rashford had been omitted due to punctuality issues.
During his outstanding 2022/23 campaign under Erik ten Hag, the Dutchman excluded him from the triumph over Wolves.
Rashford confessed he was demoted to the bench because he overslept, but he compensated for it as he came off the bench to net the decisive goal.
Ten Hag famously described the transgression as an ‘internal disciplinary issue’, choosing to bench Rashford until he was introduced at the interval to secure the victory.
Post-match, Rashford admitted: “Yeah, obviously, it is the team rules and I think it is a mistake that can happen.
“I am obviously disappointed not to play, but I understand the decision.
“I am happy that we have managed to win the game anyway. I think we can draw a line under it and move on.”
When quizzed by TNT Sports about his absence, he further explained: “I was a little bit late for a meeting. I slept in, overslept. It can happen.”
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