Marcus Rashford’s first weeks at Barcelona have been anything but quiet. The England international, loaned from Manchester United this summer, has already been impressed by the speed and precision of Hansi Flick’s training sessions, the technical quality of players like Pedri, and the youthful dynamism of talents such as Lamine Yamal. Yet amid all the excitement, the Englishman admits there is one major struggle he’s facing — and even stars like Yamal and Robert Lewandowski haven’t been able to help him overcome it.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, Rashford opened up about his early impressions in Catalonia. “Training is very intense, it’s different to in England, it’s been tough,” he explained. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s different, I’m tired after training. Obviously, the weather plays a part too.
“But it’s not tough in the aspect that in England, you’d be doing loads of hard running, but it’s more constant, more on the ball, and there’s less rest between exercises.” The English forward described the sessions as a higher test of consistency and focus, noting, “That way it’s more difficult, in terms of intensity, but it’s easier, because you have more rhythm.”
Youthful energy, veteran experience
Rashford has stepped into a dressing room packed with youthful energy. “All of the lads are young. If you’re like 27, 28, I’d say there’s more players under 21 than past 28,” he said. “In my career, I’m in the middle, but here I’m more experienced. It’s refreshing playing with [the young ones], they come in and they have so much energy, and it gives you energy. But the thing that surprised me is how mature they are on the pitch.”
That maturity, Rashford believes, comes from a different soccer education. In Spain, he noted, players are taught from an early age to read the game rather than simply showcase their abilities. “In England, you’re developed to always show your skillset, but in football, as you get older, you learn there’s a time and a place to show it,” he explained. “For example, if you’re good at dribbling, there’s a time and a place to do it, whereas in England, you’re just told to dribble.”
He pointed to Pedri as an example — still only in his early twenties, yet already boasting the tactical understanding and composure of a seasoned veteran.
The struggle Rashford didn’t expect
While his adaptation on the pitch has been rapid, off the pitch, Rashford is still tackling a significant challenge — the language barrier. The Barcelona dressing room is a mix of Spanish and Catalan speakers, and although many understand English, communication isn’t always straightforward.
“The [dressing room] language is Spanish, a lot of the lads speak Catalan, but most understand English. So, I’ve just been picking up the basics on the pitch, which I think I’ve done quite well,” Rashford said.
He has found allies in Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde, who are fluent in English and help bridge the gap. “Many know English, and some, like Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong, help me bridge the gap between English and Spanish,” he added.
