Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence that Abdukodir Khusanov will grow from his difficult debut after the young defender’s early struggles in their 3-1 victory over Chelsea.
Khusanov, a £33.6m ($41.6m) signing from Lens, endured a nightmare start to his City career.
The 20-year-old Uzbekistan international gifted Chelsea a goal within three minutes and was booked shortly after for a foul on Cole Palmer.
Guardiola substituted him early in the second half as City recovered with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden to climb back into the Premier League’s top four.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola acknowledged Khusanov’s challenging start but backed the young defender to bounce back.
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“Not the Best Start, But He’ll Learn,” Says Guardiola
“Well, what I thought is, it’s not the best start, right?” Guardiola said. “He will take a lesson.
He’s so young and has come here for many years. Dealing with players like Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer isn’t easy.
“He will learn. He’s young, and I’m pretty sure he’ll improve from this experience. It’s a lesson for him.”
Khusanov’s debut was necessitated by a defensive injury crisis, with Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké unavailable and John Stones only fit enough for the bench.
Guardiola admitted the team is counting on Stones’ availability for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League clash against Club Brugge.
Guardiola Eyes Champions League Survival Amid Defensive Challenges
Khusanov is ineligible to play in the Champions League, leaving Guardiola short of options as City aim to secure a must-win result to progress from the league phase.
“I have to learn Russian or Uzbek to communicate with him [Khusanov],” Guardiola joked. “He doesn’t speak English fluently, but he knows he made a mistake.
“What can I say? Don’t make a mistake? He doesn’t want to, of course. I substituted him mainly because of the yellow card, not just the mistake. I need John [Stones] for Wednesday.”
Despite the setback, Guardiola remains optimistic about Khusanov’s long-term potential. With time, the young defender is expected to adapt to the demands of Premier League football under Guardiola’s guidance.
