“Goal” publishes major feature on Khusanov

The respected English outlet Goal has published a feature on Uzbekistan national team and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov. Below is the translated and edited version of the article.

After Manchester City defeated Arsenal in the English League Cup final, exhausted fans returning from London to Manchester on an Avanti West Coast train kept repeating one name. But it was not their local star Nico O’Reilly. “How good is Abdukodir Khusanov?” one fan asked, while another replied, “He is a real dragon!”

In this way, City fans began to embrace the previously little-known but determined and reliable Uzbek defender as the team’s new hero. As the train headed north, the supporters were still full of excitement, and one of them said:

“The Uzbeks love him. For them, he is like Gareth Bale.”

Praise was also directed at the scouts who brought the talented player from Lens to City for £31 million in January 2025:

“What a brilliant job the scouts have done!”

Indeed, Khusanov may prove to be the best signing of City’s £180 million winter transfer window in January 2025, and perhaps one of the smartest deals made by Txiki Begiristain during his 13 years at the club.

Khusanov had played only 31 matches for Lens, and the number was even lower when City first noticed his potential. His transfer was the result of collaboration within City’s scouting network, as scouts in France saw him in action and recognized that he was young, talented, and capable of achieving great things in the future.

He was highly active on the pitch, which left a strong impression on City’s entire scouting team. In addition to City, clubs such as Newcastle, Real Madrid, and Manchester United were also interested in signing the Uzbek defender, but the Cityzens won the race for his signature.

Khusanov possesses all the qualities English football fans admire: speed, aggression, strength, and passion. For City supporters, few sights have been more thrilling than seeing Khusanov chase down an opponent and win the ball back when the team is under pressure.

The Uzbek defender produced one of the key moments in the final when he tracked back to stop Kai Havertz in the opening minutes, and later delighted City fans again by causing Viktor Gyokeres more problems than anyone else.

In City’s match against Real Madrid, Khusanov showcased the pace for which he is now becoming famous, catching up with Vinicius and Brahim Diaz. He also played a major role in City’s impressive February win at Liverpool, blocking efforts from Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike before eventually being forced off with a concussion.

Khusanov's speed is his greatest asset. The CIES Football Observatory recently named him the fastest central defender in the Champions League. He also averages 17.85 sprints per 90 minutes, the highest figure among Premier League centre-backs.

Khusanov's sprinting ability is especially valuable to Pep Guardiola, who continues to refine his team’s high defensive line, particularly since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant Josep Lijnders last summer.

Guardiola has repeatedly described Khusanov as “very fast,” while also highlighting the young defender’s football intelligence:

“Usually, when a player has strong physical attributes, it does not mean he also has intelligence in his game. He has both.”

Mental resilience

Another striking quality Khusanov possesses is his mental resilience. He managed to recover from what was a very painful debut for him at City. Against Chelsea, he made an error that led to a goal after misjudging an aerial challenge with Nicolas Jackson and then attempting to play the ball back to goalkeeper Ederson. The pass lacked power, Jackson intercepted it, and Madueke was left with a clear chance to score. The English winger made no mistake. A minute later, Khusanov was booked for a foul on Cole Palmer. He then recovered well and prevented Jadon Sancho from scoring. Shortly afterward, he came close to being sent off for another rash challenge, prompting Guardiola to substitute him at the start of the second half as a precaution.

City fans applauded him, but it felt more like sympathy than celebration. Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville said during the broadcast that “Abdukodir looked like he was about to cry.”

Away from the spotlight

It has not been easy for the young player. On his Champions League debut against Real Madrid, he found himself up against Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said Khusanov “looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.” A month later, he scored an own goal in a home draw against Brighton. That proved to be Husanov’s final league appearance of the 2024–25 season, and he did not feature in City’s remaining matches. As a result, when Vitor Reis, who joined the club at the same time for a similar transfer fee, was sent on loan to Girona in the summer, many assumed Khusanov might also spend time elsewhere. Instead, he used the off-season wisely, studying English for four hours each week.

“He does not speak like William Shakespeare, but he is improving,” Guardiola recently said when asked about the defender’s English.

Pep also added: “He understands what we want from him and he is improving all the time. He is very intelligent. I think he can develop even further. I can say with confidence that Manchester City have a very good centre-back who can help the team for many years.”

Quality and defensive versatility

After changes at the start of the year, competition in City’s central defence became even stronger, with Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol, and Khusanov all in contention. The key question is which pairing Guardiola, or whoever succeeds him, will prefer: Khusanov and Dias, or Guehi alongside one of the others. Before his injury, Gvardiol had been playing centrally, but because he also has extensive experience at left-back, he may be used on the flank if the other defenders are fit. Khusanov is also capable of playing on the right. He performed effectively in that role during a 3-0 win over Manchester United in September, although he was less convincing in the first meeting against Real Madrid. City are accustomed to playing 60 or more matches each season, so they need defenders who are reliable and versatile. Khusanov appears well equipped to help on all fronts.

Compared to a compass

Khusanov is not the kind of player who enjoys boasting, and he does not make noise even when he does not start every match. Guardiola says he does not even bring shampoo or a bag with him to games; his only focus is performing well on the pitch. Uzbekistan national team head coach Fabio Cannavaro has described Khusanov as one of the smartest players in the national side. He said the 22-year-old is a player worthy of leadership and compared him to a compass that shows the way.

Khusanov does not speak much, but he shows everyone his potential through his performances on the field. The City fans on that train can expect many more memorable moments from their baby-faced killer.

Ramazon Usanov