In the 26th round of the Premier League, Manchester City hosted Fulham at home and defeated the opponent 3:0. Josep Guardiola's team did not drag out the matter for long in this match: everything fell into place in the first half itself, and the fans in the stadium felt the mood of "the matter is over" until the break.
The fate of the match was decided between the 34th and 39th minutes. In just 15 minutes, Antoine Semenyo, Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland scored consecutive goals, putting City ahead by a comfortable score. In this short period of time, the pressure, quick passing and accuracy of the "city" players forced Fulham to defend themselves.
The most interesting point for us in this match was the return of Abdukоdir Khusanov to the field. Our compatriot, who had taken a heavy blow to the face in the 60th minute of the match against Liverpool and left the field early, was again brought on as a substitute in the 60th minute. According to Guardiola's instructions, Khusanov this time moved to the right wing of the defense and played very confidently. Importantly, even when the pace of the game was high, he read the situation correctly, did not rush, did not lose position and maintained discipline in defense.
Interestingly, the experts gave Khusanov the highest score among the players who came off the bench. The authoritative source - esteemedkompany.com analysts evaluated the actions of the Manchester City players after the match and singled out a number of players.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma received a score of 7/10. Analysts praised him for making the necessary saves and confident actions after shots. Mateusz Nunes, who played on the right wing, was rated 6.5/10: it was noted that he joined the attack well, but in some episodes he lacked accuracy. In the 60th minute, he was replaced by Khusanov.
In central defense, Ruben Diaz was rated 7/10 and it was emphasized that he played a full 90 minutes consistently. However, the highest score was given to Mark Gehi - 9/10. Analysts called him the most consistent player in City: decisive blocks, necessary interventions and episodes that did not allow the opponent to “get back into the game” were precisely his contribution.
Left-back Ryan Ait-Nouri received a 7.5/10. His activity, especially the important role in the third goal, was noted - in this position it is felt that he is becoming an increasingly important figure. In midfield, Rodri was rated 7.5/10, saying that he is returning to his best form: the quality of his passes and his contribution to controlling the game were noted. Bernardo Silva also received a 7.5/10 - it was noted that he created pressure, was active in the center, and then was substituted around the hour mark.
Goal scorer Nico O'Reilly was highly rated with an 8.5/10: he scored a goal, it was said that he adds new opportunities to the midfield. Antoine Semenyo also got 8.5/10 - he scored the first goal, and also provided the assist to O'Reilly. Phil Foden 8/10: he was noted for his active movement, assists and overall energy. Erling Haaland got 8/10: he scored a goal, had a good first-half partnership, but was substituted at half-time after a serious clash with Joachim Andersen. Analysts expressed hope that this decision was a precautionary measure.
Among the substitutes, Omar Marmoush was rated 6/10, Tijani Reynders 6/10 - they were said to have had little impact on the game. Ryan Sherkey 6/10: came on, but was not particularly noticeable because the game had already been decided. Nico 6.5/10: showed several nice episodes in a short time, it was felt that he was in good form.
One of the most talked about ratings was given to Abdukоdir Khusanov - 7/10. Analysts wrote that he replaced Nunez in the 60th minute and acted confidently in his usual style until the end of the game. The most interesting thing: Khusanov this time on the right wing showed the maturity and discipline characteristic of a skilled defender.
Now Manchester City will play their next match in the Premier League on February 21 against Newcastle. The intrigue is ready for the fans: City is currently in form, and Khusanov is showing himself every minute, strengthening confidence. The most important thing is consistency: in the Premier League, this is exactly the quality that turns you from a "reserve guy" into a "starting candidate".
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