A terrible mistake to gift Chelsea the opener and a booking within four minutes – £33.6m Manchester City new boy Abdukodir Khusanov looked genuinely scared.
“It was not the best start,” admitted City manager Pep Guardiola. Striker Erling Haaland was more blunt, calling it a “horrific start” for the team as a whole.
Watching the game for Sky Sports, former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp could only sympathise: “When you get in that position it’s like your head is in a tumble dryer.” Gary Neville added: “I felt like crying for the lad.”
Thankfully for former Lens defender Khusanov, his evening got better.
Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Haaland and Phil Foden ensured Khusanov’s first game ended in a 3-1 win that propelled City back into the Premier League’s top four.
The defending champions are now unbeaten in six league matches, winning four of their past five – having previously won one in nine.
Their recent run has reignited Champions League qualification hopes, and they are now just six points off second-placed Arsenal.