The crucial Champions League match between Manchester City and Real Madrid took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when defender Abdukodir Khusanov was seen arriving at the team hotel in Madrid at 12:40 AM, just hours before the game.
The January signing, who was included in Pep Guardiola’s squad list for the crucial playoff second leg, arrived separately from his teammates, wearing a blue hooded top. Spanish programme El Chiringuito captured footage of Khusanov entering the hotel, prompting speculation about the reason for his late arrival.
Despite the unusual timing, the hosts of the show pointed out that the Uzbek international appeared to be in good health and “arrived safely”, and recent reports may indicate that the player had problems with his VISA. With a 3-2 deficit from the first leg at the Etihad, City will have a difficult task at the Santiago Bernabeu to overcome in order to guarantee a spot in the competition’s round of 16.
Guardiola emphasised in his pre-game press conference that his team must play with “incredible courage” and put on a “almost perfect game” in order to advance. The late arrival of Khusanov adds an element of intrigue to City’s preparations, as they look to overcome the reigning European champions and 15-time Champions League winners.
