Spanish media react as Marcus Rashford 'not happy' after Barcelona beat Elche

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford was back in action for Barcelona as they sought to respond to defeat in El Clasico and the Spanish media ran the rule over his performance

Barcelona bounced back from defeat in El Clasico thanks in part to the scoring efforts of Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford. The Blaugrana beat Elche 3-1 in their first league game back since their loss against Real Madrid.

Rashford put the finishing touches on Barcelona's win by converting their third of the day, though sections of the Spanish media still found fault in his display. Despite now boasting six goals and seven assists in 14 outings under Hansi Flick this season, the United outcast wasn't entirely content with his own contribution.

"I try to give my best. I could have done better against Elche and I promise to improve because I’m not entirely happy with my performance overall," said Rashford at full-time. "We work hard to win. We’re taking it one game at a time. We need to keep playing as a team. This is Barca, and the demands must always be at their highest."

He added: "Yes, it’s a very, very important win. It’s always important, after a defeat, to win the next match; that’s the most important thing. Overall, I’m very happy today. Of course, confidence is essential in football, and the only way to build it is through hard work and winning matches."

The move to Spain has understandably been a culture shock for the England winger, though a standing ovation as he left the field suggests the fans are pleased. Former Barca full-back Lluis Carreras commented on one aspect of Rashford's play in which he believes he still isn't hitting his mark.

"I find it hard to believe; he has some issues, he plays in a position where he can't be perfect," he told Cadena Ser about Rashford's style. "He can't receive the ball and pass it back immediately; he has to try things, and he's not sharp there."

A similar sentiment was shared in Mundo Deportivo's account of Rashford's contribution. The newspaper summarised Rashford as an "asset" before describing his match in finer detail.

"Having secured a starting spot while awaiting further significant returns, the Englishman helped launch the counter-attack against Elche's daring tactical plan," read the review. "He was quite involved, experiencing both good and bad moments, until he sealed the victory with a stunning goal that showcased his best qualities."

Marca gave its own recollection of the match and highlighted Rashford's impact settling the three points. A win was crucial after giving up ground to Real last time out and it was thanks to the United loanee that Flick's men rebounded.

The recap praised the difficulty of Rashford's finish in particular and read: "Elche hit back with a goal by Rafa Mir in a 42nd-minute breakaway, but Rashford added to Barcelona's lead with a left-footed shot from a difficult angle in the 61st for his sixth goal of the season at his new club."

Last but not least, Flick lauded his star's input, which came just a few days after celebrating his 28th birthday. However, he did share some notes for improvement despite Rashford's finish.

"One or two more goals would have been good for him," the Barca boss said. "I’m happy with him; I know he can play at this level and he’s shown it. He’s an important player."

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