Emma Sanders 🤖
Andree Jeglertz: "Winning games builds confidence and scoring lots of goals. I’m very happy about that and it has shown in the week. There is a great mood. But we’re fully aware we’re playing against a very good team, who have had a great season. It will be a battle." #mcfc
BBC Sports Manchester CityRodri open to Real Madrid move despite Atletico past https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce3dnnn50ppo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss Manchester City midfielder Rodri says "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world" as he refuses to rule out a move to Real Madrid. #MCFC
Haaland donates ÂŁ100,000 Viking book to home town https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c1j70ee87n3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss Erling Haaland donates a rare 16th-century manuscript of Viking sagas, worth ÂŁ100,000, to be displayed in the library in the Norwegian town of Bryne, where he grew up. #MCFC
Henry Winter 🤖In praise of Abdukodir Khusanov. The Manchester City centre-back turned 22 only last month, is still developing his game, still ironing out mistakes, but increasingly impresses with his speed, athleticism and determination. Also his simple but effective distribution and love for the physical fray. At Wembley, his sprint back to dispossess the breaking Kai Havertz was pickpocketing at pace.
Khusanov did well in the Carabao Cup final as he gradually got to grips with Viktor Gyokeres. Still prone to a rash challenge. He took out Gyokeres but the booking didn’t faze him. Re-focused on winning his duels for the next hour.
His character has never been in doubt. On his City debut in Jan 2025, he didn’t speak the language and had had only two training sessions. He made two early mistakes, gifted Chelsea a route to goal and was then booked for fouling Cole Palmer. But he got on with the game and his career at City. “Our Uzbek warrior” the club calls him.
Good scouting. City recruited him from Lens for £33.6m after he’d played only 31 games. Also great initial scouting by Lens when he was at Energetik-BGU in Minsk. Khusanov still has elements to improve, especially in aerial challenges (he’s 6ft 1in), but looks to have many of the strengths to mature into a top centre-half. And he is only just 22.
Khusanov is in competition with some heavyweight names such as Ruben Dias and John Stones (when fit). Josko Gvardiol was playing well before suffering a tibial fracture to his right leg. Gvardiol better at left centre-back where Marc Guehi has landed successfully. Gvardiol also plays left-back well (where Nico O’Reilly, who prefers, is flourishing).
Nathan Ake, 31, partnered Khusanov at Wembley. Guardiola has outstanding options at centre-back, great role models for Khusanov to learn from. Guardiola Also academy graduate Max Alleyne. Khusanov can also play right-back.
He seems very humble. Khusanov had to be encouraged by Foden, Haaland and Donnarumma to go across to take the acclaim of the City fans at Wembley. Almost bashful. Nothing diffident about his defending, though. Khusanov looks a big prospect for City. #MCFC
Foden final appearance like a charity sub - Rooney https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2ev7mxr40go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss Phil Foden's injury-time appearance in Manchester City's Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal felt like a "charity" substitution, says former England captain Wayne Rooney. #MCFC
James Ducker 🤖
'Players are fed up' - are autograph hunters going too far? https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c78x77wz6q7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss BBC Sport explores how footballers and managers feel about professional autograph hunters, after a series of controversial incidents. #MCFC
Kevin Hatchard 🎙⚽️ 🤖Trafford 'sets the tone', while Kepa suffers 'a bad moment' https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/c17v0g99wnro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss Ex-Manchester City keeper Joe Hart looks at the contrasting Carabao Cup final performances of goalkeepers James Trafford and Kepa Arrizabalaga for Man City and Arsenal, respectively #MCFC
