Manuel Akanji backs Abdukodir Khusanov to shine for City after testing debut

Manuel Akanji rallied round team-mate Abdukodir Khusanov after a torrid start to his Manchester City career.

Khusanov, the 20-year-old centre-back signed last week from Lens, was plunged straight in at the deep end as Pep Guardiola named him in the starting line-up for Saturday's crucial Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The Uzbekistan international endured a baptism of fire as he committed an error that led to a Chelsea goal and got booked within four minutes, but City rallied to win 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium and return to the top four.

"Obviously, it wasn’t a good start for Khusanov, but I think he recovered really well," said fellow defender Akanji, who was City’s only fully-fit senior centre-back.

"It’s not easy to play your first match here at home against Chelsea. We tried to lift him up and I think he did well after that.

"I tried to protect him and not bring him into situations where it could be really tricky, especially against a team like Chelsea, who have so many good individual players.

"I just tried to lift him up and tell him not to think too much but to keep on going, maybe play the safer pass back to Eddy (Ederson) in his next action and win his next duel to get his confidence back.

"I think that’s the only thing you can really do."

Chelsea grabbed a third-minute lead after Nicolas Jackson swooped on Khusanov’s weak back-header to set up Noni Madueke.

Khusanov was then booked for hacking down Cole Palmer and things could have got considerably worse as he was beaten by the same player soon after.

But Chelsea spurned that opening and City stabilised with Josko Gvardiol levelling and the tried-and-trusted duo of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden settling the game in the second half.

Khusanov stayed on until the 54th