Pep Guardiola and Manchester City advanced to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win against Brentford. And one player demonstrated why he deserves more Premier League minutes with a stellar performance at the Etihad.
The hosts were dominant from the off, although they were somewhat fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men after Abdukodir Khusanov's rash challenge on Kevin Schade. They eventually found the breakthrough thanks to a moment of brilliance from Rayan Cherki, who clattered a curling shot past Hakon Valdimarsson after the Bees failed to deal with a corner.
In a game of half chances, Keith Andrews' side pushed forward searching for an equaliser, creating multiple openings in the second half. But their endeavor was in vain, as Savinho's deflected shot looped over Valdimarsson for City's second of the game.
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Khusanov Bounces Back From Rash First Half
Brentford's Kevin Schade in action with Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov
Carabao Cup - Quarter Final - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 17, 2025 Brentford's Kevin Schade in action with Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov REUTERS/Peter Powel
Early in the game, when Schade raced through on goal for Brentford, it seemed inevitable that Khusanov would be sent off after bundling the nippy winger to the turf. You could hear the sigh of relief inside the Etihad when a yellow was pulled from the referee's pocket - and it affected the game even beyond that incident.
From that point on, Khusanov played with a pace and poise in defence that enabled City to shut out Brentford. He made some excellent recovery runs and tackles, particularly in the second half, as Brentford were restricted to just two shots over the course of 45 minutes.
Trusted to see out the match despite the early booking, the Uzbekistan international repaid that faith in spades. Winning both of his two tackles throughout the tie, he made five clearances and produced an excellent last-man tackle too, showcasing his excellent recovery pace to deny Schade an opportunity.
Check Out Khusanov's Match Statistics vs Brentford
Abdukodir Khusanov's Match Stats from Man City 2-0 Brentford
Minutes
Tackels (Won)
Interceptions
Clearances
Recoveries
Ground Duels (Won)
Aerial Duels (Won)
Last Man Tackles
Fouls
Passing Accuracy
Man City's young centre-back hasn't always shown the maturity and composure required to play in Guardiola's side, with Khusanov featuring in just four Premier League matches for the club in 2025/26. But on the basis of what transpired on Wednesday night, he definitely could have a claim to more minutes.
Reports suggest that the club are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi as they look to bolster their defensive options. Perhaps the eight-time Premier League champions already have a player to call upon should first-choice centre-backs Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol need a break.
Man City Fans Hail Khusanov's Performance vs Brentford
Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov dribbles.
Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Tuesday November 25, 2025. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USA)
Although he gave them a heart-in-mouth moment in the tie's opening stages, Man City fans quickly grew to appreciate what they were seeing from Khusanov. Many chose to praise him for his astonishing recovery speed, with one supporter writing: "If you’re in a foot race with Khusanov, just give up."
Another added: "Khusanov is the fastest player alive bro." And a fellow City supporter drew comparisons to the speed shown by club legend Kyle Walker, writing: "I'm telling you, the recovery pace from Khusanov is just out of this world, man. Our defence needs this kind of monster just like we did with Walker to deal with fast-paced negative transitions. As long as he keeps his aggression in check and stays calm in ground duels, he'll be absolutely crucial for us this season."
Others believe that the 21-year-old's all-round play was worthy of praise though, particularly as he still has so much room to develop. One said: "Khusanov continues to impress me every time he plays. I really hope he makes it here." One went even further, saying: "Abdukodir Khusanov is one of the best young defenders in the world. That blend of pure athleticism and intelligence can never fail. Let the kid develop, he's just 21."
One more fan, remarking on his second half performance, described how Khusanov, "actually shows no mercy." And that was echoed by others. A separate individual wrote: "This 2nd half Khusanov is the Khusanov I know and love." And a final supporter said: "This 2nd half lock in from Khusanov is beautiful."