Oleksandr Zinchenko revealed last night that only his family has stopped him from travelling to fight in Ukraine.
The Manchester City defender, who learned of Russia’s invasion when awoken by wife Vlada at midnight last week, has continued training and was made captain for Tuesday’s FA Cup win at Peterborough United.
Friends from home have been sending Zinchenko countless videos of the Russian onslaught, while the 48-cap international expressed gratitude for the worldwide support for his homeland.
‘I'm just crying. It’s already [been] a week - I'm not counting - but even when I drive the car from the training ground, I can just cry from nothing,’ the 25-year-old told Gary Lineker during an interview with BBC Sport.
‘It's everything in my head. Imagine the place where you were born, where you were growing up and there is just empty ground.
‘I can show you one million pictures and videos of every city in my country which they destroyed.
'A security operation? Impossible. This is a real war. What they are doing is not acceptable. We need to stop this.
‘People there are sending me facts… they are starving. People are just surviving, sleeping underground and in bunkers.’
An emotional Zinchenko added: ‘I'll be honest, if not for my daughter, my family, I would be there.
‘I'm just born like that. I know the people from my country, the mentality of them and all of them think exactly the same.
‘I'm so proud to be Ukrainian, and I will be forever for the rest of my life. And when you're watching the people, how they fight for their lives… there are no words.
‘I know the people, the mentality of my people from my country, they prefer to die, and they will die. But they're not going to give [up].’
Posanpsz
703
Fake tear commando lol So those who are fighting? Do not have family?
_Brar
546
1st picture tells Fifa is only making it worse. Russian players deserves to play WC because its not their fault. They didn’t killed anyone and football should not interfere in military activities. Putin made it clear if Russia won’t play WC there won’t be WC. So next time you ban someone from WC just think twice who you’re up against. 2nd pictures tells why Russia invaded Ukraine. Its a futuristic plan of USA to build nuclear weapons next to Russian borders so if there’s war they can defeat Russia. Meanwhile Russia will be minutes away from Nuclear missiles. However, both Russia and USA can’t defeat each other because of the distance and without nuclear weapons. So Russia has every reason to stop Ukraine from joining NETO. Ukraine should negotiate and tell everyone they don’t wanna join NETO so there won’t be any lose of lives. Either way UKRAINE with or without NETO will lose to Russia.
Chito237
352
liar! you are scared to go and join the fight. hiding behind your family faking tears while others are dying. Does the coach of sheriff tiraspol not have a family? If you don't have the balls pls be straight about it.