Marcus Rashford admits to ‘very intense’ Barcelona pre-season under Hansi Flick
Marcus Rashford has confessed that life at Barcelona is proving tougher than he anticipated, with Hansi Flick’s demanding training schedule pushing him to his limits.
Since arriving in Catalonia on loan, the England forward has been thrown straight into Flick’s famously complex and relentless pre-season regime. The sessions have been gruelling, particularly during the club’s sweltering summer tour of Asia.
Speaking openly on The Rest Is Football podcast, Rashford revealed: “Here, it is very intense. It is difficult to explain, but the pre-season has been difficult; I was tired after every workout, and the weather also played a role.
Running is not difficult; it is more about practising with the ball and maintaining a consistent level. In this sense, the intensity is more complex.”
It’s not just the heat that’s been testing him. The training drills are sharper, faster, and ruthlessly precise, every touch, every pass scrutinised.
Yet Rashford, 26, insists the experience has been uplifting in other ways. The chance to line up alongside Barcelona’s dazzling young talents has been a source of genuine excitement.
“Honestly, it is very refreshing to be able to play with these players and play football at their own tempo [rhythm] like Pedri, who I think is only 22 or 23 years old,” he said. “I hope to have a good individual season, but if I have to choose between that and winning titles, choose to win titles.”
However, Rashford’s competitive debut for Barca is still hanging in the balance. Club president Joan Laporta has voiced concern over potential delays in registering the loanee in time for the La Liga opener against Mallorca on 16 August.
Laporta explained: “We’re working to make it happen. With Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s decision, we have the option of registering Joan Garcia, and we’re working on the rest.
This week, we’ll have news, hopefully good news, to see if we can register them before La Liga starts. And if we can’t, we have time.”
Barcelona have until the end of August to finalise player registrations. That means fans may have to wait a little longer before seeing Rashford in official action.
In the meantime, the Manchester United star remains fully committed to adapting to Flick’s high-octane style, knowing these early weeks could decide whether Barcelona decide to keep him beyond the season.
