Guardiola: Khusanov has specific qualities we don’t have | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says Abdukodir Khusanov will bring a skillset that his Manchester City squad was previously lacking.

The 20-year-old Uzbek defender has joined from Lens this month, with fellow defender Vitor Reis and forward Omar Marmoush also coming to Manchester in the current window.

Speaking in Friday’s press conference ahead of our meeting Chelsea on Saturday, Guardiola stated that Khusanov has been on the club’s radar for a long time – with Txiki Begiristain first suggesting him as a potential signing last summer.

City v Chelsea | Match preview

Guardiola also suggested that injury issues in our backline so far this season made his acquisition a priority in January.

Asked when he was first presented with the possibility of signing Khusanov, Pep said: “Well since the beginning of the season, we make a meeting with Txiki and his people to discuss potential players in all positions. They talk about him.

“With the situation with John [Stones], Nathan [Ake], Ruben [Dias] and Manu [Akanji], we said we should go to the market.

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“People say potential player for next years because all the players we don’t just sign for one year and they have big years to come here we decide to do it. He has specific qualities that we don't have.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to help us. He's young and will learn like Vitor but better to do it in summertime with pre-season. He is a player that is potentially important for us.

“He can play centre back in the middle or on the right, right back and in a three at the back. Different positions.”

A combative tackler and composed on the ball, another of Khusanov’s outstanding traits is his pace.

While Guardiola agrees that will help his side, especially when it comes to preventing counterattacks, he wants to see the whole team protect the ball better in order to guard against dangerous transitions.

“I don't just think it’s Khusanov’s pace that will solve our problems,” he stated.

“It can help us and of course speed is important when you do it but against PSG we ran more than them.

“Problem is with the ball. We are not an incredible defending team, always we are better with the ball.

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“With the ball we were good at Ipswich but for most of this season it’s what we miss. We have to pass it more, we want to run too quick.

“If you have the ball and don’t pass properly to your mate, it makes things so, so difficult.

“If we lose balls like in the past then we are not created for that when you see our team. Savinho, Kevin, Doku, Phil [Foden] or Gundo. Any team, all 20 in the Premier League are better than us.

“Statistics is about running and we run more than ever compared to the opponents. Football is about what you do with the ball.”

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