Kinkladze Q&A: Any regrets?

Throughout Wednesday, we've been asking former Manchester City star Georgi Kinkladze about his time as a professional footballer.

In this final part, he reflects on the end of his time as a footballer and considers the modern iteration of City.

Do you have any regrets from your career?

Kinkladze: I don't know - maybe. I can't say right now.

How about with the Georgia national team given you didn't quite make it to a major tournament?

Kinkladze: The national team at that time had some very, very talented players. But in the 1990s we played against teams like England, Italy, France and Spain. Everybody was a world or European champion. We just passed our time.

But the national team qualified for Euro 2024 and it was unbelievable. They lifted the whole country because Georgia is a football country. When they qualified against Greece, I have never seen so many grown men cry. Thirty years they waited - and they did it. I drank cha-cha [Georgian spirit] all day to celebrate!

Do you have any advice for younger players, things you learned from your career?

Kinkladze: You have to work hard. If you have talent, but you don't work hard then you won't make it, because hard work always beats talent. They give everything they have every day to reach a high level.

Do you wish you worked harder during your career?

Kinkladze: Yes, probably. But that's life! When you finish your career you think about if you could have done more, worked harder, but it's too late. So that's why I tell young players to work hard, because football is a short career. You never know what might happen with injuries.

Maybe you play well, then another coach comes in and changes tactics, and you don't fit in anymore. Anything can happen. So they have to give 100% always.