There is a role in the Manchester City squad for two players but they need to be given an opportunity | OneFootball

When assessing how Manchester City fared at the FIFA Club World Cup there are both positives and negatives to take from City’s efforts in the United States. How Pep Guardiola’s side went down 4-3 to Al Hilal was a cause for concern. But looking at Pep Guardiola’s substitutions last night the fact that Nico and Abdukodir Khusanov didn’t come on was a surprise. Perhaps the match at the Camping World Stadium should have seen the pair come on instead of Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake or Rodri. That is up for debate.

But looking ahead to the 25/26 season there is a role for Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Both players just need to be given an opportunity to impress and improve as players. But perhaps it may take players leaving City in the coming weeks to open up that opportunity for the pair.

Manchester City could have used Abdukodir Khusanov’s pace against Al Hilal.

Looking at how Al Hilal broke down Pep Guardiola’s side in their victory their ability to break with pace stood out. They cut through Manchester City’s defence in the second half. Malcom’s goal to give Al Hilal a 2-1 lead illustrated this. To try and counter this threat of Simone Inzaghi’s side Pep Guardiola brought on Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Rodri for Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes and Ilkay Gundogan. Perhaps last night’s match was the ideal setting for Khusanov.

Abdukodir Khusanov has the pace that Manchester City’s defence needed last night. He is strong in a challenge and at times he can be rash and reckless. But playing in a high-stakes match could have been good for his development. Looking back at the substitution Guardiola made it does feel like an opportunity lost. Maybe the result wouldn’t have changed but playing Khusanov in a high-pressure scenario could have been a good move for his development as a player.

Looking ahead to the 25/26 season perhaps one or two of Akanji, Stones or Ake have to leave Manchester City to give Khusanov a more prominent role in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Nico seems to have been forgotten.

The same logic that applies to playing Abdukodir Khusanov against Al Hilal rings true with Nico. Instead of risking Rodri’s fitness, the scene may have been set for Nico to play when his team needed him. Nico could have slotted in and played in the role Rodri did alongside Tijjani Reijnders. But it wasn’t to be. As with the Khusanov point above, the point made about Nico is made with the value of hindsight and not in the heat of the moment.

Looking at Nico as a player he does seem to have been forgotten. There will be reasons why he didn’t play more often at the FIFA Club World Cup. What that reason or reasons are right now remains to be seen. But to become a key contributor for Pep Guardiola’s squad he needs to be playing and contributing. To become Manchester City’s next Ilkay Gundogan for example, he needs to be playing the minutes Gundogan plays. That’s the only way that he will grow as a Manchester City player.

Summary

It does seem like a waste that Nico and Abdukodir Khusanov only made one appearance each at the FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament did represent an opportunity for players such as Nico and Khusanov to grow as Manchester City players. But it wasn’t to be.

Looking ahead, there are roles in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the 25/26 season for Nico and Abdukodir Khusanov. They just need to be given opportunities to play. Perhaps their pathway to more minutes will opened up by players leaving City in the coming weeks. That remains to be seen but it does feel like an opportunity lost that the pair didn’t feature more often at the FIFA Club World Cup.