Man City vs Watford: Oleksandr Zinchenko wary of Hornets threat ahead of fulfilling Wembley ‘dream’

The Ukrainian insists the cup is as special as the league as City look to secure an unprecedented treble

Oleksandr Zinchenko has warned his Manchester City team-mates that Watford should not be taken lightly ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Fresh from defending their Premier League title on Sunday, City are hoping to complete an unprecedented domestic treble at Wembley this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side are overwhelming favourites to win the club’s first FA Cup since 2011 but Zinchenko believes they must be wary of their final opponents of the season.

“Watford have very good players, especially up top,” said the left-back, previewing Saturday’s showpiece.

“Their manager [Javi Gracia] and the way they play, I like it. It’s going to be tough against them, I’m sure of that.

“But I think every single game, our target is to show everyone who we are,” he added.

Zinchenko is fulfilling a childhood dream by turning out in a Cup final, having watched the competition religiously while growing up in his native Ukraine.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be honest! To play at that stadium, in the final and to go to fight for a title. A final is always special, and we can’t wait for that,” he said.

“For me when I was younger, the Cup was just as important as the Premier League. I don’t know how other players think about it but for me it’s like this.

“I would dream of playing at a high level, I didn’t realise that I would be here and getting ready for an FA Cup final. It’s a dream.”

And despite yet another dominant Premier League campaign, with 198 points won over the last two seasons, Zinchenko believes this trophy has shown City they cannot be complacent.

Guardiola’s side were 21 minutes away from exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage, when they trailed 2-1 to second-tier Swansea City.

Zinchenko celebrates City winning the title (EPA)

A late turnaround, completed by Sergio Aguero’s 88th-minute winner, saw City progress and Zinchenko believes that a similar show of belief can lead them to glory at Wembley.

“We didn’t play so well in the first half and we went in at 2-0 down,” he recalled.

“I remember our behaviour well in the dressing room and the way we started the second half, we showed our character.

“Even at 2-0 down, everyone believed that we could win that game and we that we could beat them; we had to do it. Our fans were incredible that night, as always.”