In the second leg of the English League Cup semi-final, Manchester City secured a spot in the final with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United. If Guardiola's team will face Arsenal in the decisive stage, this match will be particularly significant for us.
Our compatriot Abdukodir Khusanov started the match and played the full 90 minutes. Staying on the field until the end in a semi-final-level match is no ordinary thing: it seems the coaching staff trusts him, and he justifies the trust.
Now let's focus on Khusanov's performance during the game. Because sometimes a defender "is not visible," but he does the most important thing for the team - he doesn't make mistakes, doesn't lose the ball, doesn't spoil the game.
Overall indicators
Khusanov played the full 90 minutes. The most noteworthy aspect is the accuracy of passes: 51 accurate passes, a total of 54 attempts (94%). This is a very good indicator for a central defender: in the "City" style, the defender doesn't just kick the ball, but participates in building the game.
At the same time, he did not score any shots or create a goal-scoring opportunity in this match. This is understandable: Khusanov's task in this match was not an attack, but the stability of the rear.
Attack participation
Number of touches - 58. This indicates that he is not "disconnected" from the game. Two passes to the third zone. The "sweetest" number is losing the ball - 0. Yes, zero. Not losing a single ball in such a pressing game is a very strong plus for a defender.
Work in defense
Although statistics show a takal as 0, this doesn't always mean "didn't defend." In some games, maintaining the correct position, blocking the path, and forcing the opponent into an unfavorable decision is even more important than a challenge.
Despite this, he cleared the ball 3 times, crossed the pass 1 time, and participated in retrieving the ball 4 times. These indicators indicate that he worked correctly when needed against Newcastle's attacks.
Duels & physical wrestling
It seems unpleasant that 0/2 (0%) came out in ground duels, but two duels are a very rare example, where episodes may not be decisive. In aerial duels, 1/2 (50%).
Regarding fouls: No fouls were committed against Khusanov, and he committed 2 fouls. That is, he might have taken the path of "smart foul" to stop danger in some episodes - especially in the semi-finals, this is normal.
Conclusion
This game was not a "show" for Husanov, but a working day: he didn't lose the ball, delivered passes with high accuracy, cleaned up and cut in the right places in defense, and most importantly - remained stable for 90 minutes.
Now it's the atmosphere of the final. If Khusanov maintains this stability, his role in "City" may increase even more. In short, he played quietly, but very correctly.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
