October 23rd 2024.
Pep Guardiola, the successful manager of Manchester City, showed his appreciation for his former player Oleksandr Zinchenko by personally calling him after their team's victory in the 2023 Champions League. The Gunners and City have been fierce competitors in the Premier League for the past two seasons, but despite the growing rivalry between the clubs, Guardiola has always maintained a close relationship with Zinchenko. The 27-year-old Ukrainian joined Arsenal from City in 2022 and has since made 70 appearances for the North London club.
In Zinchenko's new book, Believe, he revealed the heartwarming phone call from Guardiola on the night of City's historic treble win. "I guess no one was sleeping that night," Zinchenko said, recalling the moment. "But to get a call from Pep? I couldn't believe it. He said, 'Alex, you are a big part of this' - I was fully surprised, in a good way. I said to him, again, a massive thanks for everything he did for me. It shows how good-humoured he could be."
Despite not playing in the match, Zinchenko was still in the spotlight for his actions during Arsenal's game against Shakhtar Donetsk. The away end at the Emirates was filled with Ukrainian flags, and Zinchenko, who remained on the bench, shared a touching moment with the Shakhtar fans after the Gunners' 1-0 victory. He made a point of going over to the away supporters, who were mostly his compatriots, and applauded them for their support before giving his shirt to a fan.
Zinchenko's actions did not go unnoticed, as Shakhtar manager Marino Pusic praised him for his gesture. "Oleksandr [Zinchenko] was our guest in the changing room at the end of the game, he was listening to my speech to the players," Pusic said. "Great guy, we love him, and an amazing player of course."
It's clear that Zinchenko's time at City under Guardiola left a lasting impact on him, and that the two still have a strong bond despite being on opposing teams. Zinchenko's actions on and off the field show his character and respect for both his former and current clubs. It's a testament to the positive influence that Guardiola has had on his players, and the strong relationships he builds with them.
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