In the 7th round of the UEFA Champions League general stage, Manchester City played away against Budø-Glimt in Norway and suffered an unexpected 1-3 defeat. In the match, Abdukodir Khusanov played on the full field, but on the night when there was a lack of general team discipline, errors in the defensive line were also very expensive.
At the same time, it is precisely such arguments that help to assess the player "really": what decision the defender makes in each situation when the game is not easy, when the opponent's pressure increases - this is what is visible. The video, which summarizes all of Husanov's actions in the match against "Budø-Glimt," also reveals this point well for fans.
What do the staff say?
Based on the episodes depicted in the footage, the situations in which Khusanov participates appear mainly in three directions:
1) Select location and close hazardous area
In moments when the opponent is quickly transitioning from midfield to attack, the most important thing for a central defender is to hold the back line correctly. In the footage, although the City's defense sometimes appears scattered, it is noticeable that Khusanov tried to close the "dangerous zone," reduce the angle to the owners of the ball, and block the path of passes coming from below.
2) Reaction in the penalty area and compensation
Budø-Glimt's pressure is often concentrated around the penalty area: second balls, cuts, low passes. There are many such situations in the frame. In such cases, the defender needs a "one blow - one decision" mode: who to receive, who to stand close to, which corridor to block. It seems that it was in these episodes that Khusanov took a more position and tried to insure his partners.
3) A simple and safe solution when coming out with the ball
Even on a losing night, the defender's composure is important. In the footage, there are attempts to break the episode with a simple pass without taking excessive risks when "City" dribbles the ball out of their penalty area. This is the right reflex for a central defender: first eliminate danger, then the organization.
Why is this video interesting to fans
One thing needs to be understood correctly: the "all actions" video reveals more than just a goal or assist. There:
- how to take a position,
- how the opponent perceives the run,
- where does he get the ball in a tense situation,
- and most importantly - what is the speed of thinking under pressure?
will be answered. In the discussions about Khusanov, these very details determine a lot.
Conclusion
Of course, 1:3 is a difficult result for City. But every great football player goes through such nights for growth: the opponent torments you, forces you to make mistakes, and you learn a lesson. Khusanov's game is interesting precisely at this point: he might not have had an ideal evening, but the footage shows which aspects of him as a central defender are working and which aspects need more hard work on.
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