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If he digs back through the archives, Khusanov will discover that he is not the first January signing to endure a torturous bow at the Etihad Stadium.
In fact, he lasted longer in that game than former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, who was substituted at half-time 19 years ago in a City derby.
He didn’t do too badly after that.
But at just 20 years old, with a professional career that spans just 70 games of senior football and little understanding of English, Khusanov will need time.
“It wasn’t the best start, of course, but he will learn a lesson,” Guardiola said. “He is so young and has been coming for many years. He didn’t do one training session with us. We came from Ipswich and PSG so it was just recovery, recovery, recovery.
“I’ll have to learn Russian or Uzbek to communicate with him because he doesn’t speak English fluently, but in this kind of situation he has nothing to say. He knows he’s made a mistake. So I take him aside and say what?
Khusanov’s initial error was to direct the ball straight to Nikolay Jackson, deep in the Town half, who rose for Noni Maduke to finish.
When Chelsea then attacked, he again lost possession in his own half and, desperate to make amends, slashed at 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) Marmusch, but when you play as a full-back, it’s much more difficult.
“I think Pep will be thinking at the moment ‘I shouldn’t have played him’. It was a really difficult debut. I hope he will be a stronger player for it.”
The City players visibly offered their support and when Husanov was replaced by John Stones nine minutes into the second half, an appreciative crowd responded.
“I didn’t make the mistake substitution,” Guardiola said. “I did it for the yellow card. I also need John Stones on Wednesday.”
Wednesday is when City play their final Champions League first leg game, needing Club Brugge to qualify for the play-offs.
Their other new recruits, Omar Marmus and Vitor Reis, are also unable to play in this match.
While teenage Reiss watched the game from the dugout, Marmusch also started and looked a threat, having a goal disallowed for offside and showing plenty of signs that his combination with Haaland could be a winning one.
“I’ve seen it in the Bundesliga,” Haaland told BBC Match of the Day. “You can see he has something special and it will be fantastic to play with him.”
