Man City 3-1 Chelsea: Premier League champions recover from Abdukodir Khusanov’s nightmare start

If he digs back through the archives, Khusanov will find he is not the first January signing to endure a tortuous bow at Etihad Stadium.

Indeed, he lasted longer in this game than former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, who was replaced at half-time 19 years ago in a derby away at City.

He didn’t do too badly after that.

But, at just 20 years old, with a professional career that extends to just 70 games of senior football and little grasp of English, Khusanov is going to need time.

“It was not the best start of course but he will take a lesson,” said Guardiola. “He is so young and has come for many years. He didn’t make one training session with us. We came from Ipswich and PSG, so it was just recovery, recovery, recovery.

“I will have to learn Russian or Uzbek to communicate with him because he doesn’t speak English fluently but in that kind of situation, there is nothing much to say. He knows he made a mistake. So I take him to one side and say what? Don’t make a mistake?”

Khusanov’s initial mistake was to head the ball straight to Nicolas Jackson, deep in the City half, who squared for Noni Madueke to finish.

When Chelsea next attacked, he lost possession in his own half again and, desperate to make amends, chopped down Cole Palmer and was booked. It was the earliest yellow card for a player on their Premier League debut since Lee Peltier for Cardiff against Bournemouth in 2018.

Redknapp added: “I felt [playing Abdukodir Khusanov] was a bit of a risk. It’s less of a risk for [Omar] Marmoush, but when you’re playing as a centre-back it’s a lot more difficult.

“I think Pep right now will be thinking ‘I shouldn’t have played him’. It was a really difficult debut. Hopefully he’ll be a stronger player for it.”

City’s players noticeably offered their support and when Khusanov was replaced by John Stones nine minutes into the second half, an appreciative crowd responded.

“I didn’t make the substitution for the mistake,” said Guardiola. “I did it for the yellow card. Also, I need John Stones on Wednesday.”

Wednesday is when City play their final Champions League first-phase game, needing to beat Club Brugge to qualify for the play-offs.

Their other new recruits, Omar Marmoush and Vitor Reis, are not allowed to play in that match either.

While teenager Reis watched the game from the dugout, Marmoush also started and looked a threat, having a goal disallowed for offside and showing plenty of signs that his combination with Haaland could be profitable.

“I have seen him in the Bundesliga,” Haaland told BBC Match of the Day. “You can see he has something special and it is going to be fantastic playing with him.”