Abdukodir Khusanov: The next ‘Ronald Koeman’ is the future of Man City, his stats vs Chelsea prove it
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Credit: Imago Mon 13 April 2026 8:00, UK Abdukodir Khusanov has stepped up sensationally since his nightmare Manchester City debut against Chelsea back in January 2025.The 22-year-old has now started Man City’s last seven matches across all competitions, partnering Marc Guehi in the centre of defence, with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol all now sidelined.He has been nothing short of rock-solid for Pep Guardiola’s team, coming into the lineup without a hitch, and doing a sterling job to keep the Blues quiet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 12 April.Man City claimed a 3-0 win over Chelsea to keep up the chase on Arsenal for the Premier League title, and the young centre-half played a vital role in securing all three points away from home. ⚽ Man City Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, tactical previews and expert breakdowns for every Manchester City fixture. VISIT THE MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Abdukodir Khusanov puts Chelsea nightmares behind him at Stamford BridgeWith Guehi netting City’s second goal of the afternoon, it was the England international who stole the spotlight in West London, but Khusanov deserves far more credit than he receives.His debut against the Blues last year appears to follow him around everywhere, mentioned by every commentator, even though he’s been starring at the centre of Man City’s defence this season.Gary Neville, to be fair to him, was extremely complimentary of the defender, and as he unleashed a shot in the 75th minute, one that whistled past the post, he said he’s “turned into Ronald Koeman” [Sky Sports].Abdukodir KhusanovStats [FotMob]Minutes played90Touches83Passing accuracy94% (72/77)Chances created2Passes into final third9Recoveries3Fouls committed3Personally, it brought back flashbacks of Vincent Kompany’s long-range stunner against Leicester City back in May 2019, and much like that strike, Khusanov could be just as important in this campaign.Man City defenders are about to pave the way for new talentDias and Stones are both being linked with exits ahead of the summer transfer window, and despite Khusanov being ready to step into a bigger role, their departures would be greatly felt.Mick Brown told Football Insider that Everton are ready to gamble on re-signing Stones.
Given his injury issues over the years, it would be ideal to get him off the books ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.Whether Guardiola stays for another season or not, there are likely to be some huge changes during the summer, and one of those should be understanding that Khusanov is now undroppable.He is still young and inexperienced, but with all these big names around him, he is only going to flourish more and help the Citizens to even more trophies in the years to come. Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Man City Insider Access Get the full story from the Etihad Stadium and CFA with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the Etihad Campus.