Guardiola made a mistake starting Khusanov against Chelsea, says Redknapp

Pep Guardiola has backed Man City newcomer Abdukodir Khusanov to learn from a difficult debut against Chelsea, in which he was at fault for the Blues' third-minute opener, after Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said it was a mistake to start the defender.

Guardiola handed two of his three new players starts at the Etihad Stadium, with fellow new boy Omar Marmoush also handed a full debut while Victor Reis was an unused substitute.

The 20-year-old defender had a horrible start to life at City as he gifted Chelsea a goal and got booked inside the opening six minutes.

Khusanov, who cost City £33.6m - 18 months after Lens paid £84,000 to bring him from Belarusian side Energetik-BGU - speaks very little English and has only had a couple of training sessions with his new team-mates, and certainly looked like a man thrown in at the deep end before gradually settling down.

Khusanov started the second half but was replaced by John Stones in the 52nd minute, receiving an embrace from Guardiola and his team-mates.

"I said before the game I thought it was a risk to start him," said Redknapp.

"It's less of a risk for Marmoush. When you're playing as a centre-back, it's a lot more difficult, with the risk and the pressure that's on you.

"I think Pep, right now, will be saying, 'I shouldn't have played him.' He's 20 years of age, he's just come to the country, the team hasn't got any confidence as a defensive unit, you've got Matheus Nunes as you're right-back.

"It's not like the team is winning week in, week out. Last year, this would have been an easy job. But this season it's a lot more difficult. I think throwing him into an environment like this today was a mistake.

"After he made the initial mistakes, he did get better. But it was a really difficult day for him. I hope it doesn't damage him long-term. Hopefully he will learn from it and become a stronger and better player.

"Those first 15 or 20 minutes were a tough watch. I felt sorry for him."

Guardiola admitted his new defender had a tough debut but feels he'll become a better player for it in the longer-term.

He said: "He doesn't speak English so I didn't speak with him! He will be fine.

"He only had one or two training sessions. I didn't want to push John [Stones] coming from injuries. I need him for Wednesday [against Club Brugge in City's crucial Champions League match].

"He will learn. He is aware of what happened. How the players were with him was massively important. Any player can make a mistake. If after that you feel alone, it's even tougher.

"He is so young. He has come for many years. He will learn."