Both the players and fans of “Manchester City” want to forget February quickly. Because in the shortest month of the year, the “Citizens” suffered devastating defeats against two powerful clubs in the Premier League – “Arsenal” (1:5) and “Liverpool” (0:2).
In the Champions League playoffs, they faced “Real” twice, losing both matches with scores of 2:3 and 1:3.
Olli Jons, an expert from the prestigious British source manchestereveningnews.co.uk, noted that the only bright event in the recent unsuccessful games of “Manchester City” in February was related to the emergence of Abduqodir Husanov in the team.
- “Amid the recent dismal results of “Manchester City,” the only positive aspect has been Abduqodir Husanov starting to shine in the team. After a disappointing debut in the game against “Chelsi,” the Uzbek player showcased his fighting spirit and has been performing at a high level.
No one has found it easy to adapt to the demands of Xosep Guardiola at “Manchester City.” Even Rodri, a “Golden Ball” winner, needed a whole season to adjust when he first joined the team.
However, the ongoing crisis in the “Citizens” team has not given Husanov the opportunity to adapt comfortably.
Abduqodir, who was brought in from “Lans” for £33.5 million, had to compete against strong teams and high-level football stars like Cole Palmer, Alexander Isak, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrigo, and Mohamed Salah upon his arrival in Manchester.
This situation was a significant test not only for the 20-year-old defender but for any player performing at a high level in world football. Especially considering that before joining “City,” Husanov had only participated in 31 matches in one of Europe’s top five leagues, we can understand the pressure he had to overcome.
After the debut mistake, despite the numerous injuries in the team, Xosep Guardiola might have concluded that it was too early to put Husanov in games, possibly deciding to make him a backup option. However, the Spanish specialist chose a different path and immediately turned the Uzbek player into a key player during the most challenging phase of the season.
The young Uzbek defender's response to the coach's confidence was even brighter. He did not allow the rival star Alexander Isak to perform well in the match where “Newcastle” was crushed 4:0. He then played very well against the reigning Champions League winner “Real” in Madrid.
In the clash against Premier League leader “Liverpool,” he was one of “Manchester City’s” best players alongside his teammate Jeremy Doku. In this match, Husanov recorded the best results in several metrics, saving his team from dangerous situations and protecting his teammates.
His life and career at “Etihad” did not start easily. But Husanov was able to show his character in complex processes. Xosep Guardiola's gamble on Abduqodir paid off in a short time, - wrote expert Olli Jons from manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
Since joining “Manchester City,” Abduqodir Husanov has participated in a total of five matches in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, scoring one goal.
