Marcus Rashford 'could get into any team in world', says Joe Cole after stunning brace for Barcelona in UEFA Champions League win over Newcastle

React to this story

Marcus Rashford scored twice in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Newcastle United in their opening fixture of the UEFA Champions League at St James' Park. The England international delivered a stunning performance as he returned to English soil in front of Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel, and former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believes the 27-year-old could "get into any team in the world".

Highlights: Rashford bags stunning brace as Barcelona sink Newcastle

Video credit: TNT Sports

Marcus Rashford returned to English soil and delivered a stunning brace of goals as Barcelona beat Newcastle 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League.

Rashford headed in his first Barca goal in the 58th minute, and it was only nine minutes later that he unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box that Nick Pope had no chance of saving.

TNT Sports' Joe Cole was effusive in his praise of Rashford, who is on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, after the England international's superb performance.

Transfers

Man Utd, Arsenal target impresses scouts with perfect hat-trick - Paper Round

13 minutes ago

After being frozen out at United, the 27-year-old is on his way to returning to his best, and Cole believes that his top level could get the forward into any team in the world.

"It's great to see. The whole story of Marcus Rashford has been fantastic from the start, he became a real icon for the game by what he did off the pitch... but what he does on the pitch is superb," said Cole, referencing his work tackling child hunger during the Covid pandemic.

"When he's at the top of his game, he can be unstoppable. We've just seen not enough nights like that. But it's great to see him smiling and back at it.

"When he's at his best he's an England starter, he could be a Barcelona starter, he could get into any team in the world, and you just want to see him enjoying his football again - it was great tonight."

‘He's unbelievable’ – Rashford on playing alongside ‘top player’ Yamal at Barca

Video credit: TNT Sports

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Rashford talked about life at the Catalan giants and how impressive it is playing alongside the likes of Lamine Yamal and Pedri.

"He's a top player, he's unbelievable," he said about 18-year-old Yamal, who missed the game through injury.

"He's so, so young. It's difficult sometimes, you forget how young he is, but I think with him you just need to give him the freedom to play football, be happy, and enjoy himself on the pitch.

"But also today, Jules [Kounde], Pedri, unbelievable. Every time he receives the ball, he manages to get us playing forward, it's top football."

Hansi Flick's side reached the semi-finals in Europe last season, and with a performance like that, the German may be hoping that Rashford's addition to his attacking output may help them get a step further this year.

Rashford has already adopted the club's winning attitude, admitting that winning the entire competition is the only focus.

"It's only to win it, nothing else is on our minds. We know how tough the competition is, it's going to be really tough," he said.

"Last year they almost got there, so this year it's about improving and going one step more."

Rashford's second goal was a stunning effort that silenced St James' Park and was the eventual winner for the visitors.

"It was just a split second where I felt a gap and I could see the far post out of the corner of my eye, I thought I'd just try and get a shot off," he said about his strike.

"The defence in front of me was trying to block it, so I thought I'd try and lift it a bit.

"Obviously, when you're going away from the goal it's difficult to generate power if you go low, so I thought, 'aim high' and I knew when I caught it, it would take the keeper some doing to save it."

‘Special strike’ – Rashford ROCKET stuns St James' Park into silence

Video credit: TNT Sports

Flick 'not surprised' by Rashford

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick had urged Rashford to prove himself back in England ahead of the match.

Rashford delivered with his match-winning display, leaving Flick purring about his qualities afterwards.

"I'm not surprised, I said it yesterday [in the pre-match press conference] that I think he's a fantastic player, a great talented player," said Flick.

"His skills are unbelievable, his finishing is unbelievable and of course I said at half-time to him 'please score two goals!'...no, it was not like that. But I think also in the first half, he tried to create chances. He had good dribbling but the finishing was at the end not right and the second half was different.

‘I’m happy to have him’ – Flick says Rashford can take ‘next step’ after first Barca goals

Video credit: TNT Sports

"For a striker, it's always good to score goals and to finish it and I'm really happy that he was also in the box when the cross came in [for the first goal]. For us, important player. Deco [Barcelona sporting director] and I, we spoke before the season what we need and we need a player like him. Happy to have him here in Barcelona.

"I think for me it was the first step and he has to make the next one. This match, these two goals, here in England against Newcastle for Barcelona in the first Champions League match in this season, I think it's great. It's really great and gives him the confidence, belief in himself and for me this is the most important thing that he knows and shows it also on the pitch that he's a fantastic player."

- - -

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Serie A and Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Premier League