Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory against Chelsea in a Premier League clash that saw a dramatic turnaround following a rocky start for new signing Abdukodir Khusanov. The young Uzbek defender, who recently joined City for £33.6 million from Lens, made a significant blunder in the early minutes of his debut, gifting Chelsea the opening goal. Khusanov's shaky performance, which included a yellow card within just four minutes, had many fearing for his confidence and future at the club.

City manager Pep Guardiola publicly acknowledged the difficult start for Khusanov, stating, "It was not the best start," while forward Erling Haaland described it as a "horrific start." However, Khusanov’s fortunes improved as the match progressed, with City rallying to take control of the game. Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Haaland, and Phil Foden not only secured the win but also helped the team climb back into the Premier League's top four, igniting their hopes for Champions League qualification.

Guardiola emphasized the need for patience with the young defender, noting that Khusanov would learn from this experience. The manager also highlighted the support from teammates, which was evident even when Khusanov was substituted early in the second half. City’s performance marked their fourth win in five league matches, a much-needed boost as they look to maintain momentum moving forward. Meanwhile, Chelsea's problems continued as goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made another critical error, contributing to the defeat and raising questions about his future in the starting XI.