Russian commentator praises Husanov's performance at Manchester City
The English Premier League (EPL), considered the most intense and prestigious championship in world football, has become a true source of pride for Uzbek sports fans this season. Famous Russian sports commentator, journalist, and actor Aleksandr Yelagin has heaped praise on our compatriot, Manchester City central defender Abduqodir Husanov, recognizing the talented player as the biggest and most unexpected discovery of the season.
The talented central defender, who has just turned 22, began this successful season as a reserve player. However, through relentless hard work and self-belief, he managed to secure a permanent spot in the starting XI of one of the world's strongest clubs, Manchester City, in a short period.
The Uzbek son who broke barriers: Stars left on the bench
It is no secret that internal competition within the 'Cityzens', who possess one of the most expensive squads in the world, is extremely high and ruthless. Nevertheless, Abduqodir Husanov played the 2025-2026 season in a very meaningful, consistent, and impactful way that left a deep mark on the hearts of fans. According to football expert Aleksandr Yelagin, our young representative's greatest achievement is competing on equal terms with the world's biggest football stars and pushing them out of the starting lineup.
"Husanov had a simply astonishing and wonderful season. Imagine, he competed with and outperformed the world's most expensive and top-tier defenders like Josko Gvardiol. Even famous stars like Gvardiol and Ruben Dias were forced to sit on the bench after returning from injury, while Abduqodir continued to start and lead the team forward," the Russian expert said, unable to hide his admiration.
Areas for growth and Pep Guardiola's trust
Despite all the high praise, experienced commentator Aleksandr Yelagin also touched upon some aspects that the young player needs to perfect to become even stronger in the future. In the expert's opinion, although Abduqodir plays with great confidence and composure, he still makes minor errors in positioning in some situations. Fortunately, these small flaws have had no negative impact on the strength and overall reliability of the defensive wall built by head coach Pep Guardiola this season.
Check out Abduqodir Husanov's impressive statistics from this historic season:
In all official competitions for Manchester City: 37 matches;
A total of 2817 minutes of relentless action;
Key central defender who pushed European and world champions out of the starting XI;
Extremely disciplined play throughout the season with only two yellow cards;
Winning two major trophies: EFL Cup and FA Cup winner!
It is worth noting that Aleksandr Yelagin, who admires the Uzbek player's talent, has won the hearts of millions of football fans through his long and prolific career on television. For many years, he has been the most famous and beloved 'voice' of English football and the Premier League for a wide audience. We wish our compatriot even greater heights in the coming seasons!
Do you think Abduqodir Husanov will be able to remain a key leader for Manchester City next season, keeping world-class defenders like Gvardiol and Dias on the bench?
