Zinchenko hoping shock will sharpen City’s focus
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO has pledged Manchester City’s derby-day upset will not deflect them from their dream of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of trophies this season.
The Premier League leaders’ 2-0 Etihad Stadium defeat to Manchester United ended a 21-game winning run in all competitions but they get a quick chance to put that behind them when they host Southampton tomorrow.
Left-back Zinchenko expects quadruple-chasing City to prove the defeat – their first loss in 29 games in all competitions – was a mere blip.
‘We have to win the next game, we have to be more focused,’ said the Ukrainian. ‘We are not allowed to go back. We have to go forwards.
‘We are still playing in all competitions. We want to win everything this season and I hope we can do this.
‘We are still alive and we can [afford] mistakes but we are going to come back stronger, I’m pretty sure of that.’
Zinchenko admits City were up
We are still playing in all competitions and want to win everything this season
against it on Sunday from the moment Gabriel Jesus conceded a penalty after 34 seconds allowing Bruno Fernandes to put United ahead.
Zinchenko tested Dean Henderson with a fierce strike and Rodri hit the woodwork before Luke Shaw sealed second-placed United’s victory.
‘It is all about how we started the game,’ he said. ‘To concede in the first minute is not easy to come back from but afterwards I think we played better than the opponent.
‘We controlled the game, we created enough chances but we didn’t score. In this kind of big game, if you want to win you have to score.
‘United are also one of the best teams in the world, they have unbelievable players and organise well defensively. We have to learn a bit more how to come back in the game after these kind of situations.’
Although the victory may revitalise United after back-to-back 0-0 draws, it seems unlikely to change the destiny of the title, City holding an 11-point advantage with just ten games to play.