Guardiola admits mistake in starting Khusanov against “Chelsea”

"Manchester City" manager Josep Guardiola acknowledged that it was a mistake to include Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov in the starting lineup for their match against Chelsea in the 23rd round of the English Championship. Guardiola shared his thoughts during an interview with the club's press service.

"He came to a new country. It is not easy to play against "Chelsea" in the English Championship without much communication with his teammates, without training, without fully understanding our requirements. It is not easy to make his debut in such a situation. It is difficult to imagine the situation in which Khusanov found himself," said Guardiola.

The 20-year-old defender played 52 minutes in the match, during which he made an early mistake that "Chelsea" capitalized on to score a goal. Despite the challenging circumstances, his debut provided valuable experience at a high level of competition.

City defender Manuel Akanji also commented on the match, stating that he had been encouraging Khusanov throughout the game. Akanji’s support highlights the importance of camaraderie as Khusanov adapts to the demands of English football.