Khusanov’s debut match was marred by an error.
Image credit: 7
It was a Premier League debut to forget—at least for the first few minutes.
New Manchester City signing Abdukodir Khusanov, who arrived from Lens for £33.6 million, endured a nightmare start against Chelsea.
Within four minutes, he gifted Chelsea an opener and picked up a yellow card, looking visibly rattled on the field.
City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the rough start, while teammate Erling Haaland called it outright “horrific.”
Football pundits Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville expressed sympathy, with Neville admitting, “I felt like crying for the lad.”
Redemption Through Team Effort
However, the young defender’s evening took a turn for the better. Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Haaland, and Phil Foden secured a 3-1 victory for City, lifting them back into the Premier League’s top four.
Despite initial struggles, Khusanov showed glimpses of resilience, and his teammates rallied around him.
Guardiola substituted him early in the second half—not as a punishment but to protect him from a second booking. The home crowd appreciated his efforts, applauding as he left the pitch.
“I didn’t sub him for the mistake but for the yellow card,” Guardiola clarified. “He is young, and he will learn. I will probably have to learn Russian or Uzbek to communicate better with him.”
Chelsea’s Own Defensive Woes
Sanchez’s blunder handed Man City the victory.
Image credit: Manchester City
While Khusanov’s debut nerves were understandable, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had no such excuse.
His misjudgment allowed Haaland to score a brilliant lob, further exposing Chelsea’s defensive frailties.
Sanchez has now committed five errors leading to goals this season—the most by a Chelsea keeper in a single campaign since 2007-08.
With another goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, keeping a clean sheet for Bournemouth on the same day, questions over Sanchez’s role are growing.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca maintained his trust in Sanchez but hinted at potential changes before their next match against West Ham.
What’s Next for Khusanov?
At just 20 years old, Khusanov has plenty of time to recover from his rocky start.
He joins a list of January signings who stumbled early but eventually found their footing—most notably Patrice Evra, who struggled in his Manchester United debut but went on to become a club legend.
City’s next challenge comes in the Champions League, where they must defeat Club Brugge to secure a playoff spot. Khusanov will not be eligible to play, but new signing Omar Marmoush, who impressed alongside Haaland, will be one to watch.
As for Khusanov, Guardiola’s faith in him remains strong, and if this game proved anything, it’s that a difficult start doesn’t define a player’s future.