At “Manchester City,” the situation long awaited by head coach Josep Guardiola has finally come true — competition has erupted for every position on the field, reports esteemedkompany.com.
The most discussed spot is the right-back position, considered the team’s most vulnerable area. Previously, Joao Cancelo played there, but after Kyle Walker’s departure in January, this position became a real headache for City.
Currently, there are three contenders — Abduqodir Husanov, Mateus Nunes, and Rico Lewis. English media and football analysts, while examining City’s lineup, have clarified that Husanov is seen as the leading candidate for this position.
However, the young Uzbek defender suffered an injury during the match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Due to a leg injury, he was substituted in the second half by Portuguese player Mateus Nunes. In that 1–1 draw, Nunes performed his defensive duties well.
In the next two matches, against Burnley and Brentford, he continued to play on the right flank, defending solidly and joining attacks actively, even scoring a goal against Brentford.
Nevertheless, experts note that Nunes still lacks consistency. His main issue is losing concentration and making errors in key moments. This could affect his future at City. Still, if he maintains his recent form, he could become a valuable rotation player for Guardiola.
According to expert Adam Marrett, Abduqodir Husanov remains the main right-back choice. Originally a central defender, Husanov has proven himself as a versatile player under Guardiola’s system. Nunes, meanwhile, is viewed as a backup option, used either for tactical reasons or to give Husanov rest.
It was reported that Husanov’s recovery from injury has taken longer than expected. Initially, he was set to return by October 5, but the rehabilitation process has been extended.
As a result, the defender missed the Uzbekistan national team training camp under new head coach Fabio Cannavaro.
Husanov is expected to return to City’s squad after the FIFA international break, likely before the Premier League match against Everton on October 18.
For Guardiola, this competition is a positive — he always prefers to have two or three reliable options per position. Thus, the battle for the right-back spot at City continues, and it seems Husanov may soon reclaim it as his own.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
