Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has backed new signing Abdukodir Khusanov despite the young defender’s early mistake in his Premier League debut against Chelsea.
The 20-year-old, who recently joined from French club, Lens, gifted Chelsea an early goal but saw his team rally to a 3-1 victory.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenges Khusanov faced, emphasizing that it will take time for the Uzbekistan international to adapt to the demands of English football. “It’s not easy for him; he’s only trained once and faced top players,” Guardiola said.
The City boss also reflected on his squad’s recent struggles amid injuries and increased competition in the league.
He urged his players to improve, expressing satisfaction with their response in the win over Chelsea.
In addition to Khusanov, Guardiola handed a debut to Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who impressed after arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the week.
Guardiola praised Marmoush’s movement and seamless integration into the squad.
