Boss Demands More After Sluggish Display in La Liga Opener, Rashford Makes Historic Debut”
Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defense with a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca, but manager Hansi Flick was far from satisfied, slamming his players for taking their foot off the gas.
First-half strikes from Raphinha and Ferran Torres put the Catalans in control before Lamine Yamal sealed the win in stoppage time. However, with Mallorca reduced to nine men after two red cards, Flick expected a far more dominant performance.

“We Played at 50%—That’s Not Good Enough”
The German coach didn’t mince words after the match, criticizing his team’s lack of intensity. “I didn’t like the game,” Flick admitted. *”Three points are important, but after going 2-0 up and facing nine men, we dropped to 50 percent. We have to be better—play faster, control the game, and kill it off properly.”*
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Barcelona struggled to maintain their early momentum, allowing Mallorca keeper Joan García to make several saves. Flick demanded more urgency, warning his players that such complacency won’t be tolerated.
Rashford Makes History in Quiet Debut
Marcus Rashford, whose late registration had cast doubt over his availability, came off the bench in the 69th minute—becoming the first Englishman to play for Barça in a competitive match since Gary Lineker in 1989.
The Manchester United loanee operated as a central striker but found little space against a packed Mallorca defense. Flick acknowledged the difficult circumstances, saying, “It wasn’t the best situation for Rashford—there was no room to exploit. But Joan García was excellent in goal for them.”
What’s Next?
While the three points keep Barcelona’s perfect start intact, Flick’s stern message signals that improvements are needed. The Blaugrana face a tougher test next weekend against Real Betis, where anything less than a sharper display will likely draw more frustration from their demanding boss.
For Rashford, more minutes—and hopefully more impact—will be the target as he looks to make his mark in Spain.
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