Abdukodir Khusanov, defender for England’s Manchester City and the Uzbekistan national team, has come under the spotlight of the British press. The well-known outlet SQUAWKA.com published an analytical piece on our compatriot’s tough journey in the Land of Fog and his major achievements in a short time.
From mistake to victory: a debut test
Khusanov’s first steps with the Citizens were far from easy. When a serious mistake against Chelsea led to a goal, many doubted the young defender’s future. However, the former Lens man showed character and managed to win back the fans’ trust.
Pep Guardiola’s role deserves special mention here. By starting the 21-year-old—who didn’t know the language and was under psychological pressure—in six consecutive matches, the experienced coach proved his strong faith in him in practice.
The stats are impressive
Abdukodir Khusanov stands out not only for his physical strength but also for his intelligent play. His actions against Newcastle, in particular, left analysts amazed:
- A tackling specialist: Khusanov ranks 5th in the entire Premier League for tackle success rate at 91.7%. In this aspect, he has already closed in on star teammate Joško Gvardiol (94.7%).
- The passing king: Against Newcastle, he completed 58 passes—the best figure in the team. His pass accuracy was 93.5%.
Guardiola: “He’s an important signing for us”
Pep Guardiola praised the Uzbek footballer’s work rate in training and his composure on the pitch:
“Khusanov is helping us a lot. He’s still young and has many things to learn, but I like that he works at 100 percent in training,” the coach said.
Abdukodir’s main strength is that he is equally reliable both on and off the ball. Over the past 12 months, he has gone from a “bench kid” to a key figure in the team.
Next test: the Manchester derby
Today, Abdukodir Khusanov faces one of the most important exams of his career. Manchester City will take on United in the derby. United under a new coach could be a real puzzle for Husanov. But for City to stay in the title race with Arsenal, only a win will do in this match.
Do you think Abdukodir Khusanov can stop United’s attackers in today’s Manchester derby?
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