A tearful Oleksandr Zinchenko placed the Ukraine flag on the Premier League trophy in emotional scenes at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Manchester City came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home to Aston Villa to secure a fourth Premier League title in five years, scoring three times in a dramatic five-minute period.
Loading…
Zinchenko came on at half-time in place of club captain Fernandinho in his final game and helped change the game with a superb second half performance, assisting the equaliser from Rodri.
And while there were wild scenes after City retained their title, there was a moving moment involving Zinchenko.

He came back out from the tunnel with his Ukraine flag and promptly draped it over the blue ribboned trophy.
Yesterday, after the win of Premier League title, a 🇺🇦 football player Oleksandr Zinchenko tried to hold back his tears saying he is proud to be a Ukrainian and expressing belief one day he would bring this title to Ukraine as people in Ukraine deserve it. pic.twitter.com/vWyoEuHNvd
— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) May 23, 2022
Oleksandr Zinchenko wraps the Ukrainian flag around the Premier League trophy 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/QghRyajeeS
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 22, 2022
Zinchenko broke down in tears after wrapping the Premier League trophy in the Ukrainian flag 🥺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/AOeZv7DdKB
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 22, 2022
Oleksandr Zinchenko went through all the emotions 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/s3CPGJBH4n
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 22, 2022
The gesture was particularly poignant due the ongoing invasion of Ukraine from Vladimir Putin and Russia and Zinchenko burst into tears.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk man was then comforted by his teammates.
"I will NEVER forget this, never in my life" 💙
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 22, 2022
Oleksandr Zinchenko talks through his emotions... pic.twitter.com/LRF4aOzmrm
Zinchenko has been extremely vocal about the war in Ukraine following the attack from Russia and expressed his thanks for the support he has received in such a tough time.
He also wants to bring the trophy back to his country in the future.
"Unforgettable emotions for me - for all Ukrainians who are at the moment starving, and surviving in my country because of Russian aggression," he told Sky Sports.
"I am so proud to be Ukrainian and I would love one day to bring this title to Ukraine, for all Ukrainian people because they deserve it.
"It means everything for me - I would die for these people and their support. What people gave me and what they have done for me during this period, the toughest period of my life, I am so appreciative and I will never forget this, never in my life.
"At some point, in the beginning of the war I didn't think about football because it's impossible to live and know what is happening in my country. But with all the support I have had, we did it."

Zinchenko signed for City for just £1.7 million from Russian side FC Ufa and after being converted into a left-back, has won a total of ten trophies with the club.
Featured Image Credit: Image: Sky Sports & PA Images
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Pep Guardiola, Liverpool, Aston Villa
- Peter Drury's Commentary For Manchester City's Premier League Title Winner Was Pure Poetry
- Guardiola makes Liverpool claim in astonishing X-rated response to Champions League criticism
- Tottenham fan slammed as 'disgrace' after supporting Man City's win to spite Arsenal's Premier League title challenge
- Pep Guardiola Burst Into Tears After Manchester City Win Premier League, It Was All Too Much