Speaking on the ESPN FC Podcast, Vincent Kompany has been speaking about Pep Guardiola’s tactical innovations and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move to left-back.
Zinchenko came through as a creative number 10, but after a couple of years at Manchester City, he quickly moved to left-back, and he hasn’t looked back since.
The Ukrainian wasn’t the only midfield player Pep Guardiola moved to left-back, the Spaniard also did the same with Fabian Delph, and Kompany says that nobody could ever have imagined that both of these players would end up playing in defence.
Kompany stunned by Zinchenko and Delph
The former Man City captain spoke about these players moving position.
“You have to be creative, I don’t think any of us thought Fabian Delph could be a left-back, I don’t think he thought it. Zinchenko too, he was a number 10. I spent a number of hours with ZInchenko and Delphy, and I remember thinking that crosses would come over my head and they’re behind me. The real idea from Pep was that you needed creativity and you had to be brave to do it, but in the end it was logical,” Kompany said.
Tactically fluid
This is one of Zinchenko’s most important traits – he’s one of the most tactically fluid players in the Premier League.
The Arsenal star is so technically and physically gifted that he could do a job pretty much anywhere.
He’s the epitome of being the jack of all trades and the master of none, but despite playing what he would consider being out of position for large periods of his career, he’s still one of the best full-backs in England.
Zinchenko is a special talent and he’s the perfect player for a managers like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
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