Abdukodir Khusanov was introduced to fire as he made his Manchester City debut in a Premier League meeting with Chelsea on Saturday evening.
The 20-year-old Uzbekistani center back completed a permanent move to the Etihad club from French outfit RC Lens for £34 million during the week, becoming the most expensive player in his country’s history.
His outing was marred by a critical error in the opening minutes of the game, making an error leading to an early goal for the opposition in less than two minutes into his debut.
Less than two minutes later, he was booked for a reckless foul, after initially giving the ball away around his own penalty area.Before the tenth minute, Khusanov was also guilty for playing Cole Palmer onside as Chelsea beat a City high line, leading to a very dangerous attack.
While the young defender’s mistake was evident, the responsibility for this “nightmare” debut extends to manager Pep Guardiola’s decision-making.
Why Pep Guardiola is Responsible for Abdukodir Khusanov’s nightmare debut
At just 20 years old, Khusanov’s limited time with the City team meant he had minimal opportunity to acclimate to Guardiola’s complex tactical system.
“It’s not easy. He trains once and plays vs Jackson, Cole, Madueke, Sancho. It’s a process when you buy a player this young. He’ll learn.” the Manchester City boss said in his post match presser.
Despite this, Guardiola opted to start him in a high-stakes Premier League match against a formidable opponent, Chelsea, who would give them a run for their money if the opportunity presents itself.
This decision placed immense pressure on a young player still adjusting to a new league and team, hence he struggled to get on at the start of the game.
Furthermore, Khusanov’s lack of proficiency in English further complicated his debut. The error for the Chelsea goal was down to breakdown in communication between himself and Manuel Akanji.
Guardiola acknowledged this challenge, noting that Khusanov “does not speak English,” which inevitably hindered his on-field communication and contributed to his early mistakes.
The early mistakes and subsequent yellow card would have significantly impacted Khusanov’s confidence. Guardiola’s decision to start him exposed the young defender to a challenging situation that could have long-term effects on his self-belief in the field.
However, in a quality environment at City and under the watchful eyes of Pep Guardiola, Abdukodir Khusanov will definitely come back stronger, and go on to fulfil the potential City pay huge sums for.
Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden helped the host turn things around and secure all maximum points, which saw them move into the top four, taking the place of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea in the last UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
