CITY Zinchenko aims for bright Blue future...
OLEKSANDR Zinchenko is ready to fight for his City future.
The Ukrainian made his City debut last night against Wolves after joining the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in summer last year.
Zinchenko was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven shortly after his arrival at the Etihad, but he does not want to do the same again and has his sights set on more first-team appearances.
“My first goal is to stay here,” he said. “This is my home and I want to play for City.
“It won’t be easy to break into this team, but I’m working hard towards my goal and I want to be a positive influence at the club, on the training ground and in the dressing room and contribute in whichever way I can.” Guardiola described Zinchenko as ‘a young, young talent – he’s so intelligent and has a lot of quality’ after landing him more than a year ago.
He has been mentored by Fernandinho – with the pair developing a bond and the Brazilian giving him confidence to push on following a difficult experience with PSV.
He made just 15 appearances for Phillip Cocu’s side and admitted at the time it had not gone to plan.
“I’m not happy here,” he said in May before his return to Manchester. “That makes sense when you play no minutes for seven games in a row.
“I do not understand why I am the one that is never used. It is simply the choice of the coach and it is not to discuss. I will not be sorry. It is a strange experience, but I’m sure it’s good for me.”
He is in more positive mood now – partly due to a supportive team-mate.
“Fernandinho has really helped me settle here and he helped me understand a lot because, obviously he was at Shakhtar Donetsk as well and he speaks Russian!” he added.
“When I read words like that from Fernandinho, it means so much because I respect him. “It gives me more confidence and extra motivation to do even better.”
Zinchenko has been working hard to impress Guardiola and the midfielder is willing to play at full-back if called upon following Benjamin Mendy’s long-term injury. “I’ve been doing more in recent training sessions and I’m starting to really understand the role now,” he said.
“A central midfielder should be able to play in every position and be smart in my opinion – like Fernandinho – he can play anywhere and be equally as good.
“It is adding new aspects to my game which hopefully will improve me as a player.
“You have to be professional, work hard and try and improve every day.
“These guys are helping me and I really enjoy training with them.” Oleksandr Zinchenko