Pep Guardiola is often hailed as a magician, and his recent treatment of one Manchester City player might be deemed one of his latest tricks.
Manchester City have spent their share of money once again this summer, and in the January transfer window especially.
After a challenging first half of the season, City made a number of expensive signings in the winter window, and they seemed like signings that had both the short-term and the long-term in mind.
Omar Marmoush was the marquee signing for Manchester City. Marmoush announced himself with a hat-trick against Newcastle United though he’s had mixed fortunes since, with Marmoush criticised whilst on international duty with Egypt.
Meanwhile, midfield signing Nico has impressed Man City fans and it looks like he could be City’s long-term heir to Rodri who could have a lot to teach the January signing from Porto.
Elsewhere, Abdukodir Khusanov has had a very interesting time at the Etihad so far. Khusanov had a nightmare debut against Chelsea and Pep could easily have dropped him straight away. But Khusanov has arguably been City’s best player since then.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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Pep gives honest verdict on Abdukodir Khusanov at Man City
The Uzbekistani international has rapidly become something of a fan favourite at Man City. Khusanov has impressed in games against Spurs and then against Liverpool in the Premier League, even winning the Man City Player of the Month award for February.
The 21-year-old has now played eight times in all competitions for City, even scoring in the FA Cup win over Leyton Orient. Khusanov has started and finished the last five Premier League games for Man City and looks like a pretty undroppable player right now, and certainly one for the future Manchester City XI.
Speaking to the press ahead of the FA Cup clash against Bournemouth this weekend, Pep gave his verdict on Khusanov, revealing that he’s played a lot more than he expected he would. Pep explained: “It was not expected to play as much games but the situation that we have in the back-four all season made him play a lot of games.
“He has special quality, that’s for sure. Really, really special ones; he’s so fast, brings his passion, even his face I see sometimes and body language doesn’t show but his passion in many, many actions. And we are delighted in a short time, without training and many, many things. He has helped us a lot!”
What they say about Abdukodir Khusanov behind the scenes at Man City
After that disastrous debut, to then becoming such an important player for Man City; not only in such a short space of time but at such a young age still, there’s so much to like about Khusanov and his story.
And those behind the scenes at the Etihad are huge fans of his too. Dion Dublin recently spoke about Khusanov and revealed what he’s heard about the centre-back, saying: “He seems to be the one where the light has been shining on him when it’s gone wrong.
“He’s in the frame all the time. He’s been unlucky, he’s not a bad player, when you speak to people in and around City they say he’s aggressive, he’s good on the ball, he’s quick. He has a lot going for him.”
At £33.5million, Khusanov is rapidly starting to look like a real bargain signing for Man City.
Their game against Bournemouth on Sunday kicks off at 4:30pm.