Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis criticizes http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yuri-Zhirkov-c37683 for lack of effort
Andrei Kanchelskis, the former Russian player and current FC Ufa manager, revealed he felt fellow Russian Yuri Zhirkov had taken the easy way out by leaving Chelsea for Anzhi Makhachkala. The 27-year-old completed a move to the Russian outfit after failing
to establish himself at the London side and because of that Kanchelskis considered him a quitter.
Kanchelskis has played in the English Premier League, first with Manchester United and then later on with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Everton-c39043, Southampton and finally Manchester City on a loan move. The Russian winger made his debut with the Red Devils in the 1990-1991 season and stayed
with them until 1995. He went on claim a number of trophies with them, including the Premier League, FA Cup and European Super Cup.
It is after experience in the Premier League that Kanchelskis comments on Zhirkov’s premature exit from Stamford Bridge. He feels the left-back could have done more to prove himself at the London club and try and cement a place in the starting XI. The 42-year-old
dismissed claims that the former CSKA Moscow man had no chance to establish himself with the Premier League giants.
Kanchelskis said while speaking to reporters:
“I don't believe that Zhirkov had no chance to gain a foothold at Chelsea.
Of course it wouldn't have been easy. He chose the easy way out, but there was a chance to stay and prove himself at Chelsea.”
Zhirkov joined the Blues in the summer of 2009 for a record breaking fee of £18 million, which made him the most expensive Russian player of the time. However, he got off to an unlucky start since he had to wait until December to make his debut in the English
Premier League due to injury. Even after having recovered from the injury, Zhirkov never quite made an impact for the Blues.
Kanchelskis said the defender c*m winger could have done more to establish himself under the manager who had signed him, Carlo Ancelotti. He also criticized Zhirkov for shying away from competition. The Russian had a hard time breaking into the first team
with competition like http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Cole-c6809.
He continued:
“There was always that chance, and all the more so now that a new manager came to the team.
Of course there is a lot of competition for a place in the team and you need to hold on to each opportunity.”
Even if Zhirkov was unable to secure a place in the first team under former manager Ancelotti, Kanchelskis felt he should have tried under the new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. The young Portuguese manager replaced the Italian in the summer and admitted
that he had not wanted to sell Zhirkov but the player had requested to leave.
Kanchelskis said:
“Maybe Yury didn't have enough patience. Perhaps he was afraid of the competition.
You just have to work very hard, wait for your chance and give the absolute maximum when you get an opportunity.”
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