Abdukodir Khusanov was one of six signings that Manchester City made during the January transfer window of 2025. Khusanov has shown flashes of his talent during his time at City. In those flashes, he ...
Abdukodir Khusanov was one of six signings that Manchester City made during the January transfer window of 2025. Khusanov has shown flashes of his talent during his time at City. In those flashes, he has shown that he could become a key player at City in time. Khusanov’s pace and power in a challenge make him a tantalising prospect at centre-back.. He is still learning the City way but Khusanov has all of the tools necessary to become a key player for Manchester City.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Newcastle, Pep Guardiola believes that Khusanov was a top signing for City. It is hard to disagree with Pep Guardiola’s assessment given what Khusanov has shown at City so far.
Pep Guardiola believes that Abdukodir Khusanov was a top signing for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola had high praise for Abdukodir Khusanov when asked about the young centre-back during his pre-game press conference yesterday. The Manchester City manager believes that Khusanov was a top signing for City, and his pace and ability to read the game will be crucial to his team. He explained: “He is a top signing. In the high level he played in France for five months before here so it’s not easy coming here, but I think he is a special player.”
“He helps a lot because we play so high, and the positions in behind he handles it really well. He loves these kinds of actions.”
“Step by step, we need him in the process on the ball, he will learn as he is so young.”
“He is so coachable, he is always training good and gives 100%. I think he is faster and faster. He was a fast player and nothing changed, he is so reliable.”
“I said last year the club made a good decision for him.”
Injuries to other centre-backs may help speed up Khusanov’s development.
Manchester City are dealing with an injury crisis at centre-back. Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones are all ruled out for significant periods of time. Their injuries now see Abdukodir Khusanov with an opportunity to play more often. He has started Manchester City’s past two matches and has performed strongly. The silver lining in injury crisis that has rocked Manchester City’s defence is that Khusanov now has an opportunity to play regularly in the City first team.
The opportunity to play regular first team minutes should help accelerate Khusanov’s development as a player. Khusanov has the raw tools to become an elite centre-back. He just needs to refine his play. That should occur now that he has an opportunity to start in the heart of Manchester City’s defence. Khusanov’s work in possession remains in progress and that should also improve the more he plays. While it is a blow for Manchester City to lose John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones, Khusanov having an opportunity to start regularly can only benefit City in the long run.
Pep Guardiola believes that Abdukodir Khusanov was a top signing by Manchester City. The first year of Khusanov’s career at City have been full of promise. Khusanov now has an opportunity to show just how important, and good, he can be for Pep Guardiola’s side to back up the statement that his manager made yesterday.
Category: General Sports
