Hansi Flick calls out 'unacceptable' Barcelona display as Marcus Rashford makes debut

Marcus Rashford and his new Barcelona team-mates received an early taste of Hansi Flick's fury despite securing a winning start to the campaign.

Rashford, 27, made his competitive bow for Barca on Saturday as they triumphed 3-0 against Mallorca on their travels. On paper, it appeared to be the ideal beginning to their La Liga title defence.

Mallorca had been reduced to nine men before the interval, with Barcelona already leading 2-0 when two home players received their marching orders during a frantic six-minute period.

Barca seemed destined for an opening-day thrashing but managed just one additional goal - a trademark screamer from Lamine Yamal in the dying moments of added time.

Despite the emphatic triumph, Flick was incandescent with his squad for easing off the accelerator, particularly during the second period. It was in the second half when Rashford made his entrance, with the Manchester United loanee having begun on the substitutes' bench after finally being registered by Barcelona on Friday.

Rashford came on for Ferran Torres, who had netted the visitors' second strike. The England star saw his chances in front of goal limited and returned to the changing room to a livid Flick.

During his post-match media briefing, the German branded Barca's second-half display 'unacceptable'. "I didn't like the match," Flick raged. "These are three important points, but after going 2-0 up, and with the two red cards, I think my team played at 50 per cent.

"That can't happen. I need to talk to the players about this. You can't play at 50 per cent against nine players, that's not what I expect." Flick added: "This is not acceptable."

The Barcelona manager expressed sympathy for Rashford and attributed his lack of opportunities to team-mates playing with 'less intensity'. "Rashford didn't have the chance to play more freely because Mallorca was crowded at the back," Flick explained. "Also the team played with less intensity, and I wasn't happy about that."

Barcelona are set to hit the road again next Saturday, taking on newly-promoted Levante. Rashford could be given his first start by Flick, as it remains uncertain when striker Robert Lewandowski will return from injury.

Continuing their away games due to the Camp Nou being unavailable for matches, the Spanish champions face Rayo Vallecano in their final match before the international break. Rashford will be hoping to impress England manager Thomas Tuchel enough to feature in their World Cup qualifying double-header against Andorra and Serbia.