Why isn’t Khusanov playing for Manchester City? Expert explains the reasons

The talented Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who demonstrated his skills at Manchester City immediately after his transfer to the English Premier League, has recently been absent from the pitch. His absence from the squad has raised many questions among football fans, experts, and specialists alike.

Kazakh football analyst and commentator Beksulton Keulimkos expressed his thoughts and analysis regarding this situation.

Khusanov’s character and discipline

According to Keulimkos, there is absolutely no negativity concerning Abdukodir Khusanov’s personal qualities and character, nor could there be. In his opinion, the Uzbek legionnaire is extremely strong mentally and resilient to any form of pressure. In terms of discipline, he is considered an exemplary athlete among his teammates. There are no issues or questions in this regard.

Why was Abdukodir left out of the starting lineup?

According to the expert, the main reason for Khusanov's absence from the starting lineup is the flawless and high-level performance of players such as Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in the centre of defence. Additionally, Manchester City recently included young talent Nico O'Reilly, who is showing his skills on the left flank—precisely where Khusanov used to play.

In the match against Bournemouth, Guardiola left Abdukodir on the bench, fielded Nico O'Reilly instead, and shifted Josko Gvardiol to the central position.

Khusanov’s style does not suit Guardiola’s football

The analyst believes that Khusanov’s style of play does not quite match Manchester City’s playing philosophy. Guardiola’s team maintains possession of the ball for at least 70% of every match. Under these circumstances, players who are highly skilled at passing become very important.

Khusanov, however, is a defender whose playing style is based primarily on recovering the ball from opponents, physical battles, and speed. Such players usually bring significant benefit when the opposing team controls the ball more frequently. This contradicts City's current football philosophy.

Thus, it would be more suitable to field Abdukodir against teams that apply intense pressing and physical play—such as Liverpool, Tottenham, or Real Madrid.

Which clubs would suit Abdukodir?

According to expert Keulimkos, Khusanov could achieve greater success with clubs like Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid due to his playing style. He illustrates this with the example of Real Madrid defender Raul Asensio. Asensio is similar to Khusanov in terms of high speed and physical play, but as a Spaniard, his passing culture is more developed, giving him a slight advantage in this aspect.

Recall that Abdukodir Khusanov moved from French club Lens to Manchester City in January of this year for 40 million euros. He has participated in nine official matches for the Manchester side, scoring one goal.

Currently, Transfermarkt experts evaluate Abdukodir Khusanov's market value at 35 million euros. His current contract is valid until the summer of 2029. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!