Pep Guardiola said everyone involved with Manchester City were behind Fernandinho’s decision to hand Ukraine’s Oleksandr Zinchenko the captain’s armband following the side’s 2-0 win over Peterborough.
A pair of quickfire second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish saw City cruise into the FA Cup quarter-finals, but City’s powerful gesture amid Russia’s ongoing invasion in Ukraine largely overshadowed their victory.
Club captain Fernandinho was initially named skipper for the fifth-round tie but it was Ukrainian international Zinchenko who led the Premier League leaders out at the Weston Homes Stadium, with the big screen reading ‘We Stand With Ukraine’.
Zinchenko has been outspoken in his condemnation of Russia and last week wished a ‘painful death’ on Vladimir Putin with fatalities rising rapidly in his homeland.
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There had been some doubt as to whether Zinchenko would be in the right frame of mind to take to the field, but the 25-year-old performed admirably at left-back considering the circumstances.
On the decision to make Zinchenko captain, City manager Guardiola told ITV Sport: ‘Our captain [Fernandinho] decided to give it to him to show how important is the situation.
‘We are, all the club, behind this gesture to represent his country.
‘He played a lot of games in the last years and lately didn’t play much.
‘Jack has come back and Gabriel [Jesus] has come back for Olek [Zinchenko] it’s important as well.’
Guardiola said playing football was the best way for Zinchenko to keep his mind focussed amid the ‘insane situation’ in his native Ukraine.
‘Of course it is not…
Source : metro
