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Haaland praises new Man City signing after Chelsea win as Pep blamed for Khusanov error
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 25 Jan 2025 14:35 CST
- 4 min read
Erling Haaland has sung the praises of new Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush following a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side got off to an inauspicious start as an error from debutant Abdukodir Khusanov allowed Noni Madueke to give the visitors the lead. City roared back into the game thanks to Josko Gvardiol and then second-half goals from Erling Haaland and then Phil Foden.
Marmoush might not have gotten on the scoresheet but Haaland linked well with the Egypt international and heaped praise on his impact.
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Omar Marmoush
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Man City
Omar Marmoush
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Man City
“You can see he’s got something special, especially in the first half of the season. There’s a reason why Man City bought him so he got straight in the team and it’s about getting to know him as quick as possible because so many games are coming. It’s about giving him confidence and he’ll be a fantastic player for us,” Haaland said of the €75 million arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Haaland was asked about whether the squad has been boosted by the addition of three new signings, with Vitor Reis added to Khusanov and Marmoush having arrived from Palmeiras.
“It’s always nice. I’ve been a new player before and tried to come in with some different energy and personality. It’s nice to get to know new people and to play with good players. That’s what you want,” the Norway international striker said.
Guardiola’s Khusanov error
While Marmoush made a promising start at Man City, Khusanov’s debut was a baptism of fire after a short back header just minutes into the game cost the Premier League champions a goal.
Guardiola will privately feel he made a mistake starting the young Uzbekistan centre-back, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp says.
“I said before the game, I felt it was a risk to start him,” he said. “It was less of a risk with Marmoush, for example, as a striker.
“When you’re playing as a centre-back, it’s a lot more difficult, the risk and the pressure that’s on you.
“I reckon that Pep, right now, will be thinking: ‘I shouldn’t have played him.’
“He’s 20 years of age, he’s just come into the country, the team’s got no confidence as a defensive unit, the right-back just now is Matheus Nunes, it’s not like you’ve got an established back four and coming in when the team’s winning. Last year, this would have been a much easier job.
“Throwing him into an environment like this was a mistake. But he’s got to learn from it and I think long term it will probably help him. After having made those initial mistakes, he did get better.
“It was a really difficult debut for him. I hope it doesn’t damage him long term. The fans were really good with him. He will learn from this and become a stronger and better player.”
Man City next face Club Brugge in a must-win Champions League clash, but both Khusanov and Marmoush are ineligible for the match.
