Marcus Rashford's loan move to Barcelona has injected new life into his career, with manager Hansi Flick praising the positive change of atmosphere that has benefitted the England forward.
New Environment, Renewed Form
Since arriving from Manchester United, Rashford has found his scoring touch, netting six times for the Catalan giants. A significant portion of his impact has been in Europe, with four of his six goals coming in the Champions League. This includes a memorable brace against Newcastle during Barcelona's previous trip to England in September.
Flick expressed his delight at having the forward in his squad, highlighting the transformative effect of the move. "I'm happy to have him in the team, playing for Barca," Flick said. "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."
Crucial Chelsea Clash Looms
Rashford, who has recovered from a bout of flu that sidelined him for a 4-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao, is now available for a pivotal Champions League meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
This fixture carries immense weight, as both Barcelona and Chelsea are level on seven points after four group stage matches. A victory for either side in west London is essential to keep hopes of direct qualification for the last-16 alive.
Flick's options receive a further boost with the return of Raphinha from a long-term groin injury. The Brazilian made his first appearance in nearly two months as a substitute in the weekend victory. "Step by step with Raphinha," cautioned Flick. "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."
Historical Context and Current Ambition
The two European heavyweights last met in the Champions League nearly eight years ago, with Barcelona triumphing 4-1 on aggregate in the last-16. The current Blaugrana side will be hoping for a similar outcome as they aim to secure a statement win on English soil, propelled by a revitalised Marcus Rashford.
