Playing football is best for Oleksandr Zinchenko – Man City boss Pep Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said playing football was best for Oleksandr Zinchenko after the Ukraine international captained the visitors to victory in their FA Cup fifth-round clash at Peterborough.

The full-back was given the honour of leading out the Premier League champions as a show of support against Russia’s invasion of his homeland.

Zinchenko was shown crying at the support shown to Ukraine ahead of Saturday’s Premier League win at Everton, where he was an unused substitute.

He played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night as second-half efforts from Riyad Mahrez – his 19th of the campaign – and Jack Grealish’s first-ever FA Cup goal secured a 2-0 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

Guardiola may have made six changes but his side boasted 11 full internationals and he praised Fernandinho for his decision to hand the armband to Zinchenko.

“Our captain decided to give the armband to him, to show how important the situation is,” he told ITV Sport ahead of the game.

Of course it is not an easy period for Alex. Playing football is the best way for him.- Pep Guardiola

“We are all at the club behind this gesture and behind my captain, who represents his country.”

After Zinchenko’s name had been cheered in all four corners of the Weston Homes Stadium, he led City out as he and Posh captain Frankie Kent carried a Ukrainian flag.

Asked after the game about Zinchenko, Guardiola replied: “Yes of course it is not an easy period for Alex.

“Playing football is the best way for him. We are through to the next round and it was a good night knowing the difficulty of the FA Cup away.

“They started much better than us in the second half but the rest, we controlled difficult conditions on the pitch, we adapted well and at