Hansi Flick explains recent unexpected Marcus Rashford absence

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has moved to calm supporter anxiety over winger Marcus Rashford’s dwindling minutes, confirming that a bout of “physical issues” prompted the club to take a cautious approach with the England loanee.

Rashford, 28, has started only one of Barcelona’s last five matches and was an unused substitute in the two most recent fixtures, a dip that coincided with the club tightening its grip on the Liga title race. The Catalan side enter the final weekend four points clear at the summit and remain alive in the Champions League, results Flick attributes in part to Rashford’s earlier contributions: ten goals and ten assists in 38 appearances across all competitions since his season-long arrival from Manchester United.

“He has suffered from some physical issues in recent days, so we were cautious in handling that,” Flick explained. “But now he is ready and 100%.”

The timing of Rashford’s return to fitness could prove pivotal. Barcelona conclude their domestic campaign on Sunday at home to Rayo Vallecano, a match Flick indicated could offer the winger valuable minutes before he joins the England squad for a pre-World Cup training camp. National-team coach Gareth Southgate selected Rashford on Friday alongside United teammates Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, fixtures viewed as final auditions for this summer’s World Cup finals.

Those appearances, Flick noted, would serve a dual purpose: rebuilding Rashford’s match sharpness and allowing the forward to re-state his case for a starting role when Barcelona return to competitive action on 18 August against Atlético Madrid in the league’s curtain-raiser.

Rashford’s reintegration comes at a moment when depth on the flanks has become a pressing concern for the Blaugrana. With Ansu Fati continuing to manage his own fitness programme and Ousmane Dembélé cup-tied in Europe, supporters had looked to Rashford to provide late-season impetus. Flick’s reassurance that the player is now fully available should ease fears of a prolonged absence and restore an additional attacking option for the run-in.

Should Rashford feature against Rayo Vallecano, it will mark his first start since mid-April and offer a timely reminder of the pace and directness that have made him a fan favourite at the Spotify Camp Nou this season.

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