Enzo Maresca started Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back in his team’s 4-2 defeat to PSG last night. Matheus Nunes started on the bench for last night’s Champions League league phase fixture at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City were torn apart by PSG at the Etihad Stadium in the opening 45 minutes. At halftime, Enzo Maresca brought on Matheus Nunes, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye for Ruben Dias, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku. These substitutions saw Nunes move back to right-back and Khusanov slide across to centre-back. City fought back in the second half and coming out of the match one selection question against quality opponents has a clear answer for Manchester City.
As Manchester City were torn apart in the first half, Abdukodir Khusanov looked like a centre-back playing at right-back.
First things first, Manchester City’s first-half display and the goals they conceded cannot solely be blamed on Abdukodir Khusanov starting at right-back. Enzo Maresca’s side were blown apart by PSG in the opening 45 minutes of last night’s game. However, as City were stretched by PSG’s attacking play, you could see Khusanov struggling at right-back against an elite opponent.
Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a low drive from out wide on the left, and you can mount a case that Khusanov gave Doué too much space to get his shot away. Conversely, Gianluigi Donnarumma shouldn’t have been beaten at his near post. Doué would provide the cross for Ousmane Dembélé to Double PSG’s lead two minutes later. Initially, Dembélé floated a ball from the right to the left of the City penalty area which found Doué. Doué returned the favour by crossing the ball for Dembélé to make it 2-0 with a clever header. On that initial ball, Khusanov stepped too far inside to allow Doué space. In essence, Khusanov’s instincts as a centre-back kicked in. That is the issue when Khusanov starts at right-back against elite sides.
At halftime, Enzo Maresca took off Ruben Dias, who wasn’t at his best, and brought on Matheus Nunes. This move saw Khusanov move across to centre-back. There was a massive lift in Khusanov’s performance in the second half. Playing at centre-back brought out his best. Also, the move to bring Bouaddi into midfield added more security to Manchester City’s midfield and meant that their defence wasn’t as exposed.
Another factor in City’s second-half lift is that Enzo Maresca’s side is much stronger with Matheus Nunes at right-back. That has been known for some time however last night’s events further validates this fact.
Matheus Nunes has to start at right-back for Enzo Maresca’s side when they face off against the elite sides.
To reiterate the point once again, Abdukodir Khusanov was not to blame for Manchester City’s rocky first-half display. He cannot be held culpable for what transpired when Luis Enrique’s side put their foot down. However, a fair conclusion to draw is that Matheus Nunes needs to start at right-back for City when they play the elite sides. The Portuguese international is now an elite right-back and his team needs his strengths in the position, especially against the upper tier of opponents. That move does seem an obvious one for Enzo Maresca to make from this point onwards.
Abdukodir Khusanov can play at right-back on occasions. He has done it well before. However, last night’s match and the quality of the opponent did seem to catch him out to a degree. It also forced Khusanov into uncomfortable positions that PSG profited from. Manchester City’s loss to PSG was a valuable lesson for Enzo Maresca’s side. One such lesson was that Matheus Nunes needs to start at right-back against the elite sides. Khusanov is better suited to playing centre-back against sides like PSG.
The early stages of a new season are for trialling new ideas to see what works and what doesn’t. Coming out of last night’s match, you do feel that Abdukodir Khusanov can play at right-back on specific occasions. However, when City play the elite sides, Matheus Nunes should be a certain starter in the role he has made his own.