Pep Guardiola says Oleksandr Zinchenko is ready to play for Manchester City – despite his personal turmoil over the invasion of his native Ukraine.
City defender Zinchenko attended a night-time vigil in Manchester on Thursday in a show of solidarity towards his country, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
City boss Guardiola backed Zinchenko, who tweeted “My country belongs to Ukrainians and no-one will ever be able to appropriate it” and said the left-back is ready to play tomorrow if selected to face Everton away.
“He's worried,” said Guardiola. “What would we feel if our country, where we were born and have family and friends, is killing innocent people? How will you feel?
“I guess that's what he feels. Of course, the team and the club is close to him, unconditionally of course. Of course he has our support. That is normal.
“We are people living everyday together and what happened in the country where he was born, where he loves, he grew up there and they're attacking and killing innocent people. Of course he's a tab and he knows exactly we are here.
“We spoke, all of us, and I spoke privately with him and everyone. Fernandinho has friends there, the staff - everyone.
“Oleks is an incredibly strong guy. Of course it's not easy at the moment, but playing in the training session yesterday he was brilliant, so he's ready to play in case he has to play.”
Asked about Zinchenko attending the vigil, Guardiola said: “What would you do if someone abroad attacked the UK? How would you react? How would you feel?
“It's what he feels. He's away. What happened in Yugoslavia, no-one did anything and they killed people for many, many years.
“Unfortunately, around the world, there are many wars - this is a new one. It's more than a pity because innocent people are dying when these innocent people just want to live in peace.
“All around the world people want to live in peace, have a house, sleep well, have a plate on the table. Some pleasures, like movies, books, walks and some people to love and that's all.
“I think the respect lies in that and when you are not involved in anything, they decide to attack your country. Always it's innocent people in this kind of situation that pay the terrible cost, to lose their lives for the decision of one or two people.
“It's hard to accept and still, maybe we don't learn what happened in the past with previous situations.”
