On Tuesday, Ukraine defeated Malta 3-1 in a Euro 2024 qualifier, with Chelsea's £62m signing Mykhailo Mudryk scoring his first goal for the national team.
Speaking after the game, Oleksandr Zinchenko said he was happy for his teammate but warned him against trying to score in Chelsea's game against Arsenal this weekend.
"I told him… ‘if you do or attempt to do that on Saturday, I’ll rip your balls off’," Zinchenko said.
"But the most important thing for us was to take three points. I am very happy for him and for the national team, Mykhailo’s goal was important because he calmed down the game a little.
"We have already had the experience of being 2-1 up and losing points in the last minutes, as happened against Kazakhstan. So this goal means a lot to us and gives us confidence.
"But now we all have to switch to clubs and on Saturday I already have a very important game in London waiting for me, so Mykhailo, I’m telling you once again…"
Mudryk was reportedly eager to join Arsenal last January, but Chelsea were the only club to reach an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners went for Leandro Trossard instead and are unlikely to be regretting how it played out.
