45 | Abdukodir Khusanov - 2025/26

[Barcon]

I'm guessing Pep didn't want him as well

Something to do with hair or lack of.

 

[bluealf]

Something to do with hair or lack of.

You know, I hoped that story wasn't true but you have to fucking wonder.

 

[DMA's]

I think Marmoush was pictured as well, wouldn’t read too much into the tweet. Loaning out Khusanov would me madness, already our best defender IMO

I like the kid but to call him our best defender is madness imo

 

[Kippax Kidd]

He won't be in a match day squad until one/two of the CBs get injured .

 

[DWIFF]

Only player not carrying a knock who wasn't used in a behind closed doors friendly . Club looking for a suitable loan before the window shuts.

I guess that first half horror show against Bournemouth in FA Cup is still playing on Pep’s mind.

Doesn’t look good for the kid.

 

[rice10]

You have to remember that even when Stones and Ake were injured Khusanov was still being left out of the squad completely towards the end of the season. Then he played about an hour in total in the CWC, which is less than Reiss who is leaving on loan.

I don’t think there have been any signs that Pep will use him regularly this season, particularly if none of the senior defenders leave or have better injury luck. As a centre back I would say that in Pep’s eyes he is 6th choice centre back.

Having said that for all we know he might be injured or he could even have played. If we just go off the tweet then we didn’t play with a goalkeeper.

 

[Haaland94]

I guess that first half horror show against Bournemouth in FA Cup is still playing on Pep’s mind.

Doesn’t look good for the kid.

Horror show? Several players with a lower rating than him for the Bournemouth game. I wish Pep was like that towards some other players, some of which have been on that "horror" level for most of the last season. Inexplicable to drop the kid like that after he was our best player in the majority of the games he has played in.

 

[Silva2021]

Strange as he was decent against Vinicus Junior who despite being over hyped is still a very good player.

I’m unsure what his role will be, but he would be in my squad.

A loan might be ok, but I’d keep him around

 

[oldius]

Really looking forward to watching the development of Khusanov. He has definite, clear attributes (pace, aggression, determination) that will help the team. We can help him to be more comfortable in possession when pressed, and create the out-ball so that he always has options. He is young, and has the world at his feet.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Pep needs to give the lad a chance and show patience in him.

 

[Ken92]

I´d be really dissapointed if Akanji and Ake are still picked ahead of him..

 

[DMA's]

I´d be really dissapointed if Akanji and Ake are still picked ahead of him..

Spoiler alert. Your gonna be disappointed

 

[alexmcity]

Inexplicable to drop the kid like that after he was our best player in the majority of the games he has played in.

Some fans thinking he was our best player doesn't make it truth. Fans voted Ake as our 3rd best player in the Treble season, ahead of Rodri, Stones and Gundogan who were miles better than Ake. Some are just clueless or some players are more likeable than others for whatever reason.

It's obvious Pep doesn't agree with some fans.

I hope the lad gets chances and develops into a top player. But what fans think is largely irrelevant. Rodri wasn't a fan favourite years after he came despite being levels above Khusanov.

For the record, fans are free to like whomever they want. That's their business. Pep's business is to play the best possible team. If fans know better than Pep who deserves to play, then Pep deserves to be fired.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Further proves the point that January was an utter shambles

 

[Bluewood]

Further proves the point that January was an utter shambles

Young 21 year old centre half signed in Jan mid season joins the club during an injury crisis, into one of the most unstable City sides in recent years, has a shaky 20 minutes, recovers and goes onto win a POTM award for us whilst winning over the majority of the fanbase.

Gets dropped for more experienced players to see out the season and get us UCL football. Nailed on to stay this season and keep improving.

But ‘Mancini’s Pastilles’ ain’t impressed what a shame

 

[oldius]

Further proves the point that January was an utter shambles

I will take a shambles that sees us sign one of the most highly-rated players in Germany; a Brazilian international U16 and U17 central defender with 22 senior league appearances; a lightning quick 21 year old defender with some of the best defensive stats in the top 5 leagues; Bah - a raw, but powerful out and out defender; an Argentinian diamond; and a player deemed one of the stars of the Barcelona youth team. These are building blocks to a brighter future, augmented by Cherki, Reijnders, Ait Nouri, Trafford, Nypan, and Betonelli. Some are for now, some for then.

Time to look forward.

 

[Gorbachev]

I don't think it's ability with him, it's communication.

If you cannot communicate well enough in a Pep Guardiola back line when we play such risk and reward football from the defence, it's curtains.

 

[Cityfan]

I love the way so many people based on a very few games, without seeing him in any training, having no idea what his communication is like are such complete authorities as to exactly how good he is and know exactly how Pep will use him. But so many have opposite opinions
Patience is required to see how he pans out.

For what it's worth my view is that he showed some very promising attributes but ain't there yet but I will admit to being very very unsure.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Young 21 year old centre half signed in Jan mid season joins the club during an injury crisis, into one of the most unstable City sides in recent years, has a shaky 20 minutes, recovers and goes onto win a POTM award for us whilst winning over the majority of the fanbase.

Gets dropped for more experienced players to see out the season and get us UCL football. Nailed on to stay this season and keep improving.

But ‘Mancini’s Pastilles’ ain’t impressed what a shame

Im not impressed with him being shipped out on loan in favour of our perma crock has beens. January wouldnt be a shambles of we actually rated the players signed and were playing them. Pep however clearly feels they not ready or not fancied by him so it was a ridiculous unnecessary spend in January

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

Some fans thinking he was our best player doesn't make it truth. Fans voted Ake as our 3rd best player in the Treble season, ahead of Rodri, Stones and Gundogan who were miles better than Ake. Some are just clueless or some players are more likeable than others for whatever reason.

It's obvious Pep doesn't agree with some fans.

I hope the lad gets chances and develops into a top player. But what fans think is largely irrelevant. Rodri wasn't a fan favourite years after he came despite being levels above Khusanov.

For the record, fans are free to like whomever they want. That's their business. Pep's business is to play the best possible team. If fans know better than Pep who deserves to play, then Pep deserves to be fired.

Ake was absolutely superb in the treble season. When for he is superb and 9/10 for effort in games. Real leadership