Barcelona beat Getafe 3-0 on Sunday, but Marcus Rashford wasn’t the one stealing the spotlight. Hansi Flick, true to the strict line he’s shown before, left him on the bench after he turned up late for the pre-match activation. The call raised plenty of eyebrows, especially with Lamine Yamal already sidelined through injury and Rashford fresh off a brace against Newcastle in the Champions League. Still, discipline won out over form.
This wasn’t a first for Flick either. He has made it clear on several occasions that punctuality is non-negotiable, even for the big names.
Shearer doesn’t hold back
Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, didn’t mince his words in an interview with Betfair. “He was sensational against Newcastle, that second goal was incredible. But you can’t be unprofessional. Why should everyone else be there on time just for you? Why should everyone follow the rules while you don’t? That’s not right. If he wants to stay there, especially on loan, he can’t. At a top club like Barcelona, there will always be someone ready to take your place.”
He hit the point straight on. At its core this isn’t about a player running a few minutes late, it’s about the order inside the locker room. You can light up a Champions League night, but if you don’t show the same commitment day after day, the door cracks open for someone else to walk through. At Barcelona, competition is constant. Being late isn’t brushed off as a minor slip, it’s a chance for another player to claim a spot.
Talent has to meet attitude
Shearer’s tone came across almost like a warning. Rashford has already shown he can deliver in the biggest games, but at a club the size of Barcelona, discipline isn’t a luxury. He arrived as a signing meant to make an impact, yet being there only on loan makes the margin even thinner. If he wants to stay, he’ll have to prove every single day that he’s more than just flashes of brilliance.
The real test isn’t about ability. He’s got the pace, the technique, the finishing. What he needs is the mental side, turning criticism into fuel instead of baggage. If not, the same doubts that trailed him at Manchester United could follow him here. The goals against Newcastle were proof of what he can bring. The lateness before Getafe was a reminder of what still holds him back. Somewhere in between those two versions lies the shape of his future.