Pep Guardiola reveals Oleksandr Zinchenko rejected a move away from Manchester City

Pep Guardiola reveals Oleksandr Zinchenko rejected a move away from Manchester City as he hails his left back amid his stunning form for Premier League champions-elect

  • Pep Guardiola revealed defender Oleksandr Zinchenko rejected a move away 
  • The Man City left-back has found fine form this season under Pep Guardiola 
  • But Zinchenko has had to fight for his place in the team after a poor 2019/20 

Pep Guardiola revealed that Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko rejected a move away to fight for his position at the club.

The 24-year-old has found his feet at the Etihad Stadium this season and has become a regular feature in City’s dominant defensive line.

After a poor season in the 2019/20 campaign, Zinchenko did come close to a move away from the club but has fought his way back into Guardiola’s plans.

Pep Guardiola revealed that Man City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko rejected a move away

The 24-year-old has found his feet at the Etihad Stadium this season under Pep Guardiola

The 24-year-old has found his feet at the Etihad Stadium this season under Pep Guardiola

And the City boss did not hold back when praising the defender after their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 

‘Oleks [Zinchenko] fought a lot to be at Man City, a transfer was possible, he said ‘no I want to be here,’ Guardiola said.

‘That means a lot. He’s a guy who played in another position, never complains. He doesn’t make mistakes. When you say something, he reads it immediately.’

‘He is always focused, always concentrated,’ he added.

The City boss did not hold back when praising the defender after his best season at the club

The City boss did not hold back when praising the defender after his best season at the club

‘As a left-back he fights against [Mohamed] Salah, [Marcus] Rashford, [Angel] Di Maria – the toughest opponents and he doesn’t make mistakes.

‘His quality with the ball is exceptional, we know it.’

The Ukraine international has featured in 92 games for the Citizens across all competitions, scoring two goals and laying on seven assists. 

Zinchenko has won eight honours with the club, including this season’s Carabao Cup for a fourth successive season and is set to lift a third Premier League trophy in the coming weeks.