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Marcus Rashford believes he can finally fulfil his true potential at Barcelona after scoring two stunning Champions League goals in front of the watching England coach Thomas Tuchel at Newcastle on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old Manchester United loanee opened the scoring with a fine 58th-minute header before firing in the second goal from 20 yards. Rashford had done enough to ensure that, despite Anthony Gordon’s 90th-minute consolation, Eddie Howe’s side were beaten. “It is going good. I am obviously learning a lot,” Rashford said afterwards as he praised his new manager, Hansi Flick. “It is a new way of football, but I am enjoying it all and I think it is making me a better player.
“I’m 100% full of excitement and very motivated. Hansi Flick is a top coach and a top man-manager. We want to win the Champions League.
“That is what I am here to do – to help the team win, but also to try to improve and be the best that I can. It is an amazing experience. I have always been a huge admirer of Barcelona and it’s amazing football with amazing players. We just want to win as much as possible.
“I am very motivated and determined. The quality we have in the team excites me. It is so refreshing to play with these players. Newcastle is not an easy place to play football and the first half was very cagey. We did well and we tried to control the game in spells but it’s very difficult to play against this team and I’m really pleased we managed to win.”
Flick, who regards Rashford as more of a No 9 than a left-sided forward or winger, appeared equally delighted with his loanee. “He showed us he’s a fantastic player,” he said. “We always see this from Rashford in training and we saw it on the pitch today.
“I’m happy to have him and those two goals will help Marcus get to the next step. It’s important he’s confident and feels OK.”
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It all left Howe disappointed. “These nights are only magical if we win,” said Newcastle’s manager. “But we’ve learned a lot. We were always really in the game, I never felt we were out of it but while it was a very wholehearted, gutsy display, we maybe just lacked a bit of quality.”
