| Lonely Yury Zhirkov is suffering the blues
Yury Zhirkov has been hit by homesickness since
joining Chelsea from CSKA Moscow last summer.
Simon Johnson
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Yury Zhirkov Photo thisislondon.co.uk
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The ?18million Russia international is Chelsea's biggest
signing since the ?30m deal for Andrey Shevchenko four years ago but he
has started only three Premier League games.
A troublesome knee injury was believed to be the main reason for Zhirkov's
problems at the start of the season but he has revealed he has also found
life hard off the pitch.
The 26-year-old said: "Though many people say I'd adapt easily to
England and its football, I cannot admit the adaptation is full. The problem
rests on my poor knowledge of the language.
"Language in a foreign country is by no means essential but I understand
that football depends on having an everyday adaptation.
"Besides the language I also lack my friends. I always talk to them
in Skype. I think if my friends would have been in London everything would
have been perfect.
"I regularly meet with Andrey Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Diniyar
Bilyaletdinov came to London a couple times. But at home I have many more
friends."
However, Zhirkov is determined to make a success of his career at Stamford
Bridge despite being linked with a loan move to Dynamo Kiev.
"All the talk about a move is only rumours," he said. "I
hope to pursue a career at Chelsea."
London
Evening Standard, 09.02.10
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