Khusanov errors best possible way to being PL career, says Pep after then Uzbek international endured a nightmare start to his City career.
Khusanov did not have the best of starts in his Manchester City debut, as a misjudged header led to Chelsea opening the scoring with a Noni Madueke tap-in.
To make matters worse, he almost immediately scythed down Cole Palmer in a very promising position resulting in a yellow card as well.
The Uzbek international was then subbed off at half-time, with John Stones making way for the second half.
However, City manager Pep Guardiola was unwavering in his defence of the 20-year-old, who was a January acquisition from French club RC Lens.
“It is not easy for him. He trains once and then to play against [Nicolas] Jackson and Cole and Madueke and [Jadon] Sancho. It is a process when you buy a player this young. He will learn. These kinds of actions are the best lesson you can take. He doesn’t speak English so I didn’t speak to him. He’ll be fine. He only made one or two training sessions.”
Guardiola explained why he started him. “I didn’t want to push John Stones, who is returning from injury – with Wednesday’s game [against Club Brugge].
“The players were together. That was massively important. Any player can make a mistake. The fans always support the new players. He’s so young. He will learn. In this kind of situation, there’s nothing much to say. He knows he made it.”
Josko Gvardiol equalised on 42 minutes before second-half strikes from Haaland and Phil Foden sealed victory, lifting City to fourth, three points behind Nottingham Forest. Guardiola said: “Now we’re closer to Nottingham but Bournemouth are on an impressive run.”