Pep Guardiola Reflects on Khusanov’s Challenging Debut
In the world of football, debuts can be a mixed bag of emotions, and for Abdukodir Khusanov, his first appearance for Manchester City was certainly one to remember, albeit for the wrong reasons. Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind Manchester City’s recent successes, has expressed confidence that the young defender “will learn” from his challenging start against Chelsea.
Khusanov, who recently made a high-profile move to City from Lens for a hefty £33.6m ($41.6m), found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Within just three minutes of the match, he inadvertently gifted Chelsea a goal, setting the stage for a tough debut. The 20-year-old Uzbekistan international’s woes continued as he was booked for a foul on Cole Palmer just a minute later. His debut was cut short when he was substituted early in the second half.
Despite the rocky start, Manchester City managed to turn the tide, securing a 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden propelled City back into the top four of the Premier League.
Guardiola, known for his calm and composed demeanor, shared his thoughts on Khusanov’s debut, saying, “Well, what I thought is not the best start, right?” He continued, “He will take a lesson. He’s so young, he’s come for many years. It’s not the best start of course, but dealing with [Nicolas] Jackson, with Cole [Palmer], with all these incredible players is not easy.”
Guardiola’s faith in Khusanov’s potential is evident as he added, “He will learn. He’s young, he will learn, I’m pretty sure. Take a lesson from that.”
Khusanov’s early debut was necessitated by injuries to key players Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké. John Stones was only fit enough to be named on the bench, leaving Guardiola with limited options.
Looking ahead, Guardiola emphasized the importance of having Stones available for the crucial Champions League clash with Club Brugge on Wednesday. Khusanov, unfortunately, is not eligible to play in the Champions League, and with Dias and Ake still sidelined, City’s path to progression in the league phase remains challenging.
Guardiola humorously noted the language barrier with Khusanov, saying, “I have to learn Russian or Uzbek to communicate with him [Khusanov].” He acknowledged the young defender’s mistake but remained supportive, stating, “He doesn’t speak fluently in English. In this kind of situation, there’s nothing much to say. He knows he made a mistake.”
Guardiola’s decision to substitute Khusanov was primarily due to the yellow card, not just the mistake. “I make a substitution mainly for the yellow card, not just for the mistake. I need John for Wednesday,” he explained.
- Khusanov’s debut was marked by an early mistake and a booking.
- Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory over Chelsea.
- Guardiola remains confident in Khusanov’s potential to learn and grow.
- Injuries to key players necessitated Khusanov’s early debut.
- Guardiola is focused on the upcoming Champions League clash with Club Brugge.
As the football world watches, Khusanov’s journey with Manchester City is just beginning. With Guardiola’s guidance and support, the young defender has the opportunity to learn from his debut and develop into a key player for the team.
Originally Written by: Rob Dawson
