Sun Jan 26 04:00:24 UTC 2025: ## Man City’s £33.6m Signing Makes Nightmare Debut, But City Wins

**Manchester, England** – Manchester City’s newly signed defender, Abdukodir Khusanov, endured a nightmarish Premier League debut against Chelsea last week. The 20-year-old, acquired from Lens for £33.6 million, gifted Chelsea the opening goal with a terrible error just minutes into the game and received a booking within four minutes. Manager Pep Guardiola admitted it wasn’t the best start, while striker Erling Haaland called it “horrific.”

Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville expressed sympathy for the young Uzbekistani international, who appeared visibly shaken. Redknapp described the situation as feeling like “your head is in a tumble dryer,” while Neville said he “felt like crying for the lad.”

Despite the early setback, Khusanov’s performance improved, and goals from Josko Gvardiol, Haaland, and Phil Foden secured a 3-1 victory for Manchester City, propelling them back into the Premier League’s top four. The win marked the fourth victory in their last five league matches, a significant turnaround after a previous run of one win in nine.

Guardiola defended his decision to start Khusanov, citing the lack of training sessions due to the player’s recent arrival and the language barrier. He plans to learn Russian or Uzbek to better communicate with the young defender. Khusanov was substituted in the second half, not for his mistake, Guardiola clarified, but due to the yellow card and the need to have John Stones available for the upcoming Champions League match.

While Khusanov struggled, fellow new signing Omar Marmoush impressed, showing promise alongside Haaland and displaying the pace and energy that Guardiola said will be key in the coming matches. Haaland himself praised Marmoush’s skillset and potential to be a valuable asset to the team.

The match also highlighted a significant error by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, marking his fifth goal-leading mistake this season. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged Sanchez’s error but stated he still has faith in the keeper, although Filip Jorgensen may start in their next match. Despite his early blunders, Khusanov’s performance improved, and with time, Guardiola believes he will adapt and become a valuable asset to the team. The young defender’s challenging debut serves as a reminder of the steep learning curve faced by many players entering the Premier League.

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