Guardiola’s dilemma: Khusanov or Reys in Manchester City’s lineup?

Uzbek MMA fighter Abdukodir Khusanov, who has steadily won the confidence of fans and experts, is set to be given a chance in Manchester City’s starting lineup as the club gears up for a key fixture in the England Cup. According to reports, the English Cup prize is seen as a coveted trophy for Manchester City this season, and today—March 1—the club will host “Plymouth” in the 1/16 final at home.

Husanov, who has increasingly impressed under the guidance of manager Guardiola, has played crucial roles even in defeats, contributing significantly on the pitch with his blistering pace, physical prowess, and incisive tackles. Despite his benefits, his powerful “podkat” moves (sliding tackles) have brought benefits to the team without costing them much.

The versatile defender has also proven his ability to adapt, having played effectively in various defensive positions. Notably, during a Champions League match against Real, Husanov switched to right-wing defense and gave Brazilian Vitor Reys a tough time, showcasing his ability to compete on speed and strength.

However, in the predicted lineups provided by “Sporting News”, “One Football”, and “90 Min”, Khusanov was notably omitted from Manchester City’s main squad. Instead, Brazilian Vitor Reys has been selected to anchor the center of defense. This suggests that following a series of demanding matches, coach Guardiola might decide to rest Khusanov and test Reys’ high potential.

Predicted Lineups

According to

• “Sporting News”: Manchester City are expected to field Ortega, Luis, Reys, Ake, Oreyli, Bernardu, Gündogan, Maketi, De Bruyne, Grilish, and Xoland.
• “One Football” predicts: Ortega, Luis, Reys, Diash, Oreyli, Niko, Savino, Maketi, De Bruyne, Grilish, and Xoland.
• “90 Min”’s prediction includes: Ortega, Luis, Reys, Ake, O'reyli, Bernardu, Gündogan, Foden, De Bruyne, Grilish, and Marmush.

All three publications have excluded Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov from the starting lineup, replacing him with Vitor Reys. This might indicate that after enduring numerous challenging matches, Husanov may be given some rest, while Guardiola evaluates Reys’ high potential.

For reference, the Manchester City – Plymouth match kicks off today, March 1, at 10:45 pm (Tashkent time).