Oleksandr Zinchenko sends emotional Ukraine message as Man City youngsters given blueprint

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines for Thursday, June 2.

It’s been an emotional few months for Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the City left-back playing on while his home country is subjected to the Russian invasion. It’s clear to see how much the Blues’ support has meant to him, with the defender paying a tearful tribute after winning yet another league title.

His attentions now turn towards getting Ukraine to this year’s World Cup, and they now find themselves just one game away from booking their place in Qatar. They beat Scotland 3-1 on Wednesday night to set up a decider against Wales on Sunday.

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And for Zinchenko, the victory at Hampden Park meant so much amid the conflict his country is currently going through. “We have dreamed like a team to be at the World Cup and we now have one more game, and we need to win it,” Zinchenko told Sky Sports.

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Few academy products have taken the game by storm as Phil Foden has over the past couple of years. The 22-year-old came through the ranks with the Blues and is now considered one of the brightest talents in world football.

Foden is certainly a huge success story for City’s academy, but he is also a once-in-a-generation type of talent. There is an acceptance from the club that not everyone who comes up through the ranks will be of the same level.

But City do still need to nurture players who can compete with the world-class talents sporting director Txiki Begiristain is scouring the world for. And there is plenty of evidence to suggest that there are now more blueprints for young talents to follow than the exceptional Foden.

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