New signing of Marcus Rashford has explained that the young players of Barcelona have developed an adulthood in their game because of their football education, unlike what he is used to in England. The 27-year-old arrived in Barcelona in July and seems to enjoy life in Spain.
Rashford still has to make his official debut, but if he is registered by the Blaugrana on time, he will compete for a start spot against RCD Mallorca with Ferran Torres, with Robert Lewandowski injured. He explained that even the training was a process of adjustment, in an interview with the rest is football. '
“Training is very intense, it is different than in England, it's hard to explain. It is difficult to explain, but it is different, I am tired after training. The weather clearly also plays a role. But it is not difficult in the aspect that you would do a lot of hard running in England, but it is more constant, more on the ball, and there is less rest between exercises.”
“That way it is more difficult, in terms of intensity, but it is easier because you have more rhythm.”
Of course, Rashford had to adjust primarily to life in a new country and learn a new language for the first time, after leaving Manchester United. Although it only had the foundation, Rashford explained that it had not been a problem.
“The [dressing room] Language is Spanish, many boys speak Catalan, but understand the most English. So I just picked up the base on the field, which I think I did pretty well. Then there is as Frenkie [de Jong] Speaks good English, Jules [Kounde] Speaks English well, but they also have good Spanish because they have been here for a few years, but football in general, I know that many people say it, but it is a language in itself. “
However, entering a young dressing room has reinforced the English international.
“All the guys are like young, if you are 27, 28, I would say that there are more players younger than 21 than last 28. In my career I am in the middle, but I am more experienced here. It is refreshing playing with [the young ones]They come in and they have so much energy and it gives you energy. But the thing that surprised me is how mature they are on the field. '
Rashford was asked to go deeper into what that maturity was, and settled in the way the Academy Systems instructed players to use their talent.
“It is precisely the way they are developed, it is different. In England you have always been developed to show your skills, but in football as you get older, you learn that there is a time and a place to show it. If you are good in dribbling, for example, there is a time and a place to do it, while in England you are only told to dribble.”
“That is one of the first things I realized, such as Pedri is 22, 23, he is actually very young. But he is so much experience playing for one of the largest teams in the world.”
Last season, Barcelona saw La Liga Shockeren with an aggressive line of defense, which led them to a domestic Treble including the Spanish Supercup. However, Rashford believes that their success is already behind them.
“They are so good at playing the high line. Everyone just looks offside, but they are so sure. It is really impressive that they have been doing it for a year. I am still learning. It will probably be football for a while. It is what I want to play.”
“We have seen how good they were last year, but the motivation they have to improve is really impressive. Everyone has forgotten last year, they know it will be difficult to do that again, I noticed after the first few days, and it is the perfect environment.”