Manchester City’s new signing, Abdukodir Khusanov, endured a challenging debut against Chelsea, marked by a mistake that gifted the Blues an early lead.
The 20-year-old defender, who joined City for £33.8 million from RC Lens earlier this month, was thrust into the spotlight during the Premier League clash. However, his debut quickly turned into a nightmare after a poor header back to goalkeeper Ederson allowed Chelsea to score within the first three minutes.
Khusanov, visibly shaken by the high-pressure moment, struggled to regain his composure. Just a minute after the error, he fouled Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, earning a yellow card for his troubles. The young defender appeared unsettled as his first experience in the English top flight began to unravel. In such a difficult moment, Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson took a brief moment to offer support, giving Khusanov a comforting pat on the belly. Jackson, who himself faced early struggles in the Premier League after moving from Villarreal, seemed to offer encouraging words to the debutant, understanding the emotional toll the Premier League can have on newcomers.
As the match continued, Khusanov’s performance did improve slightly, but the pressure remained intense. After the interval, Pep Guardiola made the decision to substitute the Uzbek defender in the 54th minute, bringing on John Stones. By then, Manchester City had equalized through Josko Gvardiol’s first-half goal, and a second-half brace from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden gave City a 3-1 victory. Khusanov, now sitting on the bench, watched as his team managed to secure the win without him on the pitch.
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This match marked a significant moment in Khusanov’s career, as he became the first player from Uzbekistan to sign for a Premier League club. Despite the early setbacks, the defender had a brief spell of recovery during the game, and his future at City remains promising. Guardiola, who was supportive of his new player after the match, acknowledged the young defender’s difficulties but maintained confidence in his potential. The manager explained that Khusanov had only participated in one or two training sessions with the team and had yet to adapt fully to the demands of English football.
Guardiola further emphasized the importance of allowing Khusanov time to settle in, particularly as he is still learning English. “He doesn’t speak English so I didn’t speak to him,” Guardiola noted. “He’ll be fine. He will learn.” The manager also highlighted the value of the collective support from the players, as the team rallied around Khusanov during his challenging debut. “The players were together. That was massively important. Any player can make a mistake,” Guardiola said.
While Khusanov’s debut was not as he would have hoped, it’s clear that he has the full backing of both his manager and teammates. The pressure of adjusting to the Premier League can be immense, but with continued support from Manchester City and time to settle into his role, Khusanov’s journey in English football has the potential to be a rewarding one. The 20-year-old will undoubtedly learn from this experience and grow as he continues to develop under the guidance of Guardiola and his City teammates.
