Pep Guardiola is still helping to turn Aleks Zinchenko into a left-back for Manchester City.
The Ukranian arrived as a low profile signing during the Catalan's first transfer window at the club and there were no guarantees that he would go on to become part of the first team squad.
After an underwhelming loan spell at PSV, the club were open to letting Zinchenko leave the club in 2017 and 2018 but the former Shakhtar youngster has dug in and earned a spot in the team in a left-back position that is increasingly familiar.
With Guardiola short of options when Benjamin Mendy suffered a serious injury, he saw enough in Zinchenko to consider playing the No.10 in defence. The next conversation the two shared would change everything and Zinchenko is now the club's preferred left-back - at least until Mendy can show that his fitness can be relied upon.
“He [Guardiola] did a lot for me and he is still helping me," he said. "It's an unbelievable feeling to be close to the best manager in the world, someone who helps you a lot.
“That's why he is the best manager in the world. I remember the first day when he told me I would play as a left-back. It was after a training session, he came to me and said: 'I can see you playing in this position, you have to be good. If youimprove yourself, you will get your chance'.
"That's how it went. Everyone in this squad is waiting for his chance to use it.
"I can't say it's a completely new position for me, because when I was in Russia I played a couple of games in that position. Now is my third season playing as a left-back, so it's a normal position for me.
"I'm still learning, but I'm used to it and I really enjoy playing in this position.”
"On international duty, I play as a midfielder, but when I come back I have to switch straight away and play as a left-back because it is a completely different story.”
