Marcus Rashford faces criticism after Barcelona’s defeat
Marcus Rashford has received severe criticism from the Spanish media following Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League, reports BritPanorama.
Barcelona struggled throughout the match, with Chelsea asserting dominance from the outset. Rashford, who came off the bench at half-time to replace Ferran Torres, was criticized alongside many of his teammates for a lackluster performance.
Mundo Deportivo assessed Rashford’s display starkly: “He was neither seen nor sacrificed in defence.” They remarked that the England international, who entered the match with Barcelona down a player, “couldn’t act as an agitator,” and described him as “sentenced” to a bleak performance.
Chelsea took the lead with an own goal from Jules Kounde in the 27th minute. The situation deteriorated for Barcelona after their captain, Ronaldo Araujo, was sent off for a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge on Marc Cucurella.
Estevao Willian and Liam Delap subsequently scored, further amplifying Barcelona’s woes. The match was branded a “nightmare” for the Catalan side, which was described as “unrecognisable.” The analysis indicated that Chelsea had effectively “run over” Barcelona, who were accused of being “tight-fisted” and providing a “very poor version” of themselves, complicating their chances to advance in the tournament.
The front page of Sport echoed similar sentiments, stating: “Araujo’s unforgivable sending-off turns the second half into an exercise in incompetence for the Blaugrana.” They lamented the team’s inability to maintain consistency compared to their La Liga performances.
Criticism extended to manager Hansi Flick, who found himself without answers during the match. Players like Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski were noted for their underwhelming displays, with the former being effectively neutralized and the latter labeled “absent.”
In contrast, Chelsea’s Estevao shone brightly, exhibiting a masterclass performance that overshadowed Rashford’s contribution.
In post-match comments, Estevao reflected on his impressive outing, acknowledging the rapid pace of the game and expressing a desire to continue scoring, a hopeful indication of his burgeoning career.
In moments like these, the dichotomy between expectation and performance becomes starkly evident — a reminder that in football, glory and disappointment often walk hand in hand.
