Manchester City Boss Guardiola Defends Young Defender Khusanov

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his team's fighting spirit after they came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind new signing Abdukodir Khusanov, despite the 20-year-old defender's error on his Premier League debut against Chelsea. Khusanov, who joined City from French side Lens earlier in the week, gifted Chelsea the opener in the third minute, but his teammates rallied to secure a 3-1 comeback victory.

Guardiola acknowledged that Khusanov's debut was not easy, given the caliber of opposition he faced. “It is not easy for him. He trains once, and then to play against (Nicolas) Jackson and Cole (Palmer) and (Noni) Madueke and (Jadon) Sancho, it is a process when you buy a player this young. He will learn,” Guardiola said. The Spanish coach's comments reflect his understanding of the challenges Khusanov faces as a young player adapting to the Premier League.

Guardiola has navigated a turbulent period in recent months, with key players succumbing to injuries and other Premier League teams posing a sterner challenge to City's dominance. Despite these challenges, Guardiola remains committed to developing young players like Khusanov, who he believes will learn and grow from their experiences in the Premier League.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team has faced significant challenges lately, describing the season as “tough, tough.” Despite the struggles, Guardiola remains committed to his players, many of whom have been with the team for eight or nine years. “We struggled lately and it has been a tough, tough season. Most players have been here eight or nine years and I am not going to change my opinion in two months,” Guardiola explained.

⚽️ @JoskoGvardiol4 42'
⚽️ @ErlingHaaland 68'
⚽️ @PhilFoden 87'

Highlights of our @premierleague win over Chelsea 👇 pic.twitter.com/CBjuGRLpLg

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 25, 2025

Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance against Chelsea, particularly their ability to create scoring opportunities. “We have to realise it is not enough, what we are doing - I ask them to step up, and we did it. We created enough chances to score goals and in the end I am really pleased for the victory,” he added. The 3-1 win over Chelsea was a welcome boost for City, and Guardiola was pleased to see his players respond to his challenge.

⚽️ @JoskoGvardiol4 42'
⚽️ @ErlingHaaland 68'
⚽️ @PhilFoden 87'

Highlights of our @premierleague win over Chelsea 👇 pic.twitter.com/CBjuGRLpLg

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 25, 2025

Guardiola also praised the debut performance of Omar Marmoush, the 25-year-old Egyptian striker who joined the team from Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek. Marmoush quickly settled into the team, impressing Guardiola with his movement and connection with his teammates. “Really good. That connection with other players and incredible movement. It is the first game, and he deals with the change and he makes unbelievable movements,” Guardiola said.