Gabriel Jesus and Oleks Zinchenko would have been long shots two weeks ago to start for Manchester City against Real Madrid, much alone be vital players in a thrilling Champions League semi-final victory. While Joao Cancelo's suspension influenced Zinchenko's inclusion, the reality is that both players made it difficult for Pep Guardiola to omit them for the second leg at the Bernabeu next week.
Both Zinchenko and Jesus have had their “exit door” moments at City, the Ukraine international looking odds-on to leave three or four years ago to join a lesser Premier League light, before digging in his heels and insisting that he had what it takes to make a valuable contribution at City.This season, Jesus had established himself as a right winger, putting him in direct rivalry with Riyad Mahrez, who was undoubtedly City's most influential player in the Champions League last season and is currently the top scorer in all competitions with 23 goals. And, despite Guardiola's preference for pitting his defensive work rate against top opposition, he was a distinct outside bet to start against Madrid. He started both Premier League matches against Liverpool this season, and was named man of the match in both games versus Real two years ago.
Carlo Ancelotti, who had no doubt prepared his team to face the normal City set-up of two strikers, was taken aback.Zinchenko is a more difficult choice. Cancelo was recently forced to move flanks due to Kyle Walker's injury, leaving the left back position up for grabs between the Ukraine international and Nathan Ake. When Cancelo was suspended, Zinchenko was given the start in the home leg against Real Madrid because of his superior offensive talents. Even if Cancelo had been available, Zinchenko could have filled in at right back for Walker if he hadn't been available.
Walker is said to be back in training, and Cancelo's suspension has been served, so Guardiola could revert to his preferred back four of Walker, Dias, Laporte, and Cancelo this season. However, Zinchenko's performance was good enough to make him think.He's a savvy footballer, and his contribution was crucial in causing the Real defense to lose shape, allowing the mercurial talents of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva to punish the visitors. That was clear in the fourth goal, when Zinchenko, who was playing the inverted full back role that Guardiola prefers, hooked up with the attack on the edge of the box and was fouled. As the Real players waited for the whistle to sound, the ball rolled to Bernardo, who slammed it home.
Much of City's greatest work benefited from Zinchenko's deft play. He caused Real to squeeze themselves narrower by coming in as an extra midfielder, leaving Foden one-on-one with the bag-of-nerves.It also meant De Bruyne and Bernardo were afforded more time and space on the ball, which can be deadly for opponents. Zinchenko moved forward in the second goal, drawing Real players in and left Foden alone on the flank.
He seized the ball and passed it to De Bruyne, who had all the space he needed to shoot a cross to Jesus, putting the game out of reach. With Cancelo and potentially Walker back next week, City's options open up again, but both Zinchenko and Jesus have proved that, like all great teams, City has heroes of both types — likely and unlikely.
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