City Defender Khusanov Criticised After Tough Debut Against Chelsea

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has defended newcomer Abdukodir Khusanov after a difficult debut against Chelsea, in which the 20-year-old defender made mistakes that ultimately led to the Blues' opening goal.

Khusanov, who cost City £33.6m, started the match alongside fellow new signing Omar Marmoush and was given an opportunity to make his full debut despite speaking little English and having only two training sessions with his team-mates.

The young defender had a rocky start, gifting Chelsea's Thiago Silva a goal inside the third minute, but eventually settled down as the game progressed. He was replaced by John Stones in the 52nd minute, receiving an embrace from Guardiola and his team-mates.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp criticised City's decision to start Khusanov, saying that it was "a mistake" and that throwing him into such a high-pressure environment at such a young age could damage his development. Redknapp also noted that the risk of playing in midfield was a lot higher than playing as a centre-back.

However, Guardiola dismissed Redknapp's criticism, saying that Khusanov will learn from his mistakes and become a better player for it in the long term. "He doesn't speak English so I didn't speak with him!" Guardiola joked. He praised the young defender's awareness of what happened on the pitch and how he was treated by his team-mates, saying that any player can make a mistake.

Gary Neville also weighed in on Khusanov's debut, feeling sorry for the young defender but noting that it could have been worse for him. Neville praised Guardiola for giving Khusanov the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and called for supporters to be supportive of the young player.

Khusanov's difficult debut serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by new players in the Premier League, particularly those who are young and inexperienced. However, with a supportive team-mate like Stones on hand and Guardiola's guidance, Khusanov will be closely watched to see how he recovers from this setback.

The City defender is set to face another test in Wednesday's Champions League match against Club Brugge, where the visitors are likely to pose an even greater challenge. Will Khusanov emerge from these early tests with his confidence and game intact? Only time will tell.