Ukraine footballing legend Andriy Shevchenko has spoken to Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko to offer his support amid the ongoing war in their home country.
Speaking exclusively to LadBible, the legendary former Chelsea and AC Milan forward — who scored 309 goals in his stellar career — was discussing a host of different topics around the conflict, including his own personal feelings and his messages of support to Ukrainian footballers around the world. City star Zinchenko has earned plaudits for his work on the pitch in recent weeks, but his mental resolve off the pitch has been hugely admirable with unimaginable pain he must be feeling at the moment.
With Kyle Walker's season-ending injury, the 25-year-old has been asked to fill in at left-back while Joao Cancelo switches to the right. Against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon, he was exemplary off the ball and very tidy with his play when he received it.
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Shevchenko mentioned Zinchenko when discussing his messages of support for Ukrainian players around the world, revealing he has had conversations with him about the distressing topic.
He said : "I know how it's been difficult for the boys. I tried to support, I tried to call them and encourage them to not give up, to think about the game.
"Just try to go in the stadium and play for your country, play for your fans who are supporting you, which club you're playing, but also, because at that point, the boys are representing Ukraine and then we need that visibility in the world, that Ukrainian athletes can do very well.
"I think especially here in England, there's been incredible support, especially from government and from the Football Association.
"I spoke to Yarmolenko, I spoke to Zinchenko, all the managers and teammates, fans supporting Ukrainian players, who's supporting also all the situation, what's going on in Ukraine and everybody was looking to give their hands, send all the humanitarian aid and helping with the refugees, try to get the families here.
"Also, it's a very, very important sign, the football community united together and sending a big message to the world, we are all against the war, we want to stop the war in Ukraine."
