‘Hyperactive’ Marcus Rashford showing his class, but could Barça be getting even more? | Marcus Rashford

At the top of Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Atlético Madrid on Saturday evening, because the gamers stood celebrating earlier than the small pocket of supporters applauding them from excessive within the north-west nook of the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone approached Hansi Flick, shook his hand and reminded him of one thing: “You’ve acquired to come back again.” It got here as an invite, born of admiration, and likewise a warning. This was solely the beginning of a trilogy during which they face one another 3 times in 10 days, and the concluding chapter there could be totally different.

A distinct competitors, for a begin. Targets from Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski, the latter on 89 minutes, had just about secured Barcelona the league title but it surely was going to get greater and imply extra. Atlético, already adrift, had rested gamers; the final time Barcelona had been there – within the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg – they’d crushed them 4-0; and the following time the Catalan membership got here it might be the Champions League quarter-final, second leg. And, again within the Metropolitano, that basically could be a battle: more durable than this and, it seems, more durable than anybody had imagined.

At full time on Wednesday evening, Simeone didn’t make for Flick. As a substitute, he headed straight up the tunnel, leaving his gamers on the market on the Camp Nou, the place he had seen his group beat Barcelona for the primary time. (Final 12 months’s 2-1 away win was at Montjuic). Atlético’s coach had hoped that Half II would do what the second instalment of a trilogy is meant to do: arrange the third. He couldn’t have anticipated it to be as nicely set as this. It was sufficient to be in it, for Barcelona to know they’d have come again to a spot the place Atlético had put 4 previous them and 5 previous Actual Madrid. Now on high of that they’ve a 2-0 lead.

“It’s not over,” Flick stated, and Simeone agreed, or stated he did. “We will take the sport away from anyone,” Rashford stated. In spite of everything, that 4-0 Copa del Rey loss had been adopted by a 3-0 win, Barcelona coming so near an astonishing second leg comeback. However that was on the Camp Nou; this time they must do it away, and with classes realized by each side. Simeone, requested whether or not he would slightly have to arrange a group mentally for a comeback or to guard a bonus, stated the benefit in fact: “It’s simply frequent sense.”

Within the historical past of the Champions League solely as soon as has a group overturned a 2-0 dwelling defeat from the primary leg. That’s the dangerous information for Barcelona; the excellent news is that one in all them has been right here earlier than. In 2019, Rashford’s late penalty knocked out Paris Saint-Germain, seeing Manchester United by means of. Seven years on, he stated they’d performed sufficient to have secured a greater end result within the first leg and so they wanted to copy elements of the efficiency, if not the rating, within the second.

“The mindset and intent of this group are unbelievable and we’re going to want all of that within the subsequent recreation with a view to come again,” Rashford stated. “This group is at all times going to create possibilities as a result of now we have a lot high quality. At this time the targets didn’t go in however we can’t shrink back from the accountability.”

Rashford had felt that extra clearly than anybody. Barcelona had 18 pictures to Atlético’s 5, and Rashford had been the dominant attacking determine from the beginning. Minute two, he minimize inside and had his shot saved by Juan Musso. Minute 4, once more he was denied by Musso, one on one. Minute 14, he volleyed huge. Minute 17, he scored … however the flag went up. Minute 30, he was denied by Musso once more. Minute 50, performed in by Lamine Yamal, his shot missed the close to publish. Minute 52, he smashed a free-kick off the bar. And that was simply the pictures, seven inside an hour.

He had flown up the left, Barcelona’s play turned his approach. He had been “hyperactive”, AS wrote. “Tireless on the wing, producing hazard,” Sport stated. Mundo Deportivo referred to as this an “exhibition of velocity”, giving him full marks. This was his greatest efficiency of the season, but there was remorse. “We’ve got to be extra medical,” he stated. “In essence, this may be defined by saying that Rashford just isn’t Luis Suárez,” judged El Periódico.

When Rashford arrived in the summertime he was a back-up possibility. Barcelona had lengthy favored the look of him however they’d additionally pursued Nico Williams and Luis Díaz earlier than him. His arrival on mortgage from Manchester United was defined, largely, by the comparative ease and financial system with which a deal could possibly be performed, though there was a wrestle to register him in compliance with La Liga’s wage limits. He additionally got here so as to add versatility and depth to a ahead line that had completed final season trying overstretched.

With Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in place, there was little anticipation that he could be a starter. However there was additionally the chance for issues to vary. He was theoretically an alternative choice to all three forwards, capable of play left, proper and centre, and damage and rotation would supply the possibility to vary his standing, to get common taking part in time. In the meantime a €30m (£26m) purchase clause meant the deal could possibly be made everlasting.

Requested within the autumn whether or not he would really like that to occur, Rashford replied: “Yeah, for positive.” He talked about needing a change and appeared to have discovered a spot in Catalonia: “I don’t suppose there’s a lot change in me; it’s only a new surroundings, a brand new tradition; I’m having fun with it right here,” he stated. His first three Champions League video games introduced 4 targets and two assists, the promise of extra. Making his transfer everlasting gave the impression to be a no brainer; on some ranges, it nonetheless does. He has 5 targets and 4 assists in 10 Champions League video games, and is on double figures for each throughout all competitions, the primary participant to cross that threshold in Spain this season.

His had been the proper mortgage signing. Barcelona couldn’t have requested for extra. And but, there may be an ‘and but’, absurd although that may appear. And but, does being a back-up fulfill? And but, Barcelona might ask for extra. There was an odd sense that if statistics have been incontestable; that if he has tempo, directness and supply few others do, his contribution could be contested; that his decisive moments are additionally generally remoted ones.

Flick determined Rashford has one function, on the left. When he was moved inside on Wednesday evening, it was to a centre-forward place he has occupied six occasions in 41 video games, and he has performed on the correct twice. Even with Ferran Torres and Lewandowski struggling badly for kind, Flick has appeared reluctant to make him a striker: Dani Olmo began Half I of the Atlético-Barca trilogy at false 9. Rashford’s alternatives had been comparatively few these days: eight, zero, 62, 17 and nil minutes performed within the 5 league video games earlier than final weekend. Then he began and scored.

However it’s not simply the targets, not simply the numbers. The calls for of this group are explicit too and there was one thing within the response from Flick earlier than Wednesday’s recreation: “We all know Marcus is incredible with the ball however defending can also be a part of the sport. He’s doing nicely and adapting.”

If Rashford just isn’t Suárez, he’s additionally not Raphinha, the person he should change. The person who has 19 targets and eight assists this 12 months and racked up 34 targets and 26 assists final 12 months, Simeone’s alternative as Ballon d’Or winner, and the person whose depth is contagious, main the strain that makes Flick’s system operate. It isn’t actually Rashford’s fault, however the man he replaces is the one Barcelona most miss, and that tends to place the emphasis on the issues he isn’t, as a lot because the issues he’s. “He’s not precisely a ferret with regards to urgent,” Santi Giménez stated in AS.

Damage to Raphinha over the past worldwide break was met as a catastrophe, though it was additionally projected as a possibility for Rashford: an opportunity to play, to show some extent and make clear a future that continues to be undecided, regardless of the simplicity of securing it. And that reality alone is eloquent.

Barcelona are proud of him and would really like him to proceed. There’s an appreciation for what he has performed and the qualities he has, a heat too, however whereas €30m just isn’t a lot from a Premier League perspective it’s prohibitive to them. Particularly because the reluctance to treat him as a striker implies that they need to spend to signal there, consuming right into a restricted price range. United contemplate that payment, agreed final summer season, as non-negotiable; Barcelona wish to negotiate. The “in fact” from the autumn has given strategy to conversations within the spring, choices to be made, from each side.

These had been the video games that might outline every little thing, not just for the group however for him. A second to take accountability. On the Camp Nou on Wednesday, the largest match of Rashford’s first season in Barcelona, he did, tearing into Atlético, imposing himself the best way his supervisor needed. Relentless, he did every little thing however rating. “On one other evening these go in,” he stated; subsequent Tuesday they must, again on the Metropolitano, the place on the evening that Rashford helped to take Barcelona in direction of the title, Simeone informed Flick they’d meet once more.