Pep Guardiola 'shut down a joke' from Zinchenko about his 50th

‘The main thing is that your wife likes me’: Pep Guardiola ‘shut down a joke’ from Oleksandr Zinchenko about his 50th birthday, reveals the player’s partner… with Man City boss STILL not forgetting her criticism of failure to win the Champions League

  • Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife was critical of Pep Guardiola tactics after Lyon loss
  • Vlada Sedan blamed his three-man defence for shock Champions League exit
  • The player later apologised on her behalf, saying she spoke as a fan would
  • But it appears Guardiola hasn’t quite forgotten her criticism of his game plan
  • Zinchenko joked Guardiola had reached ‘old age’ when marking his birthday 
  • The City boss replied: ‘As long as your wife likes me, all will be okay’  

It seems Pep Guardiola still hasn’t forgotten about the damning comments made by Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife following their shock Champions League exit to Lyon last season.

TV presenter Vlada Sedan revealed how Guardiola shut down a joke Oleksandr made about his recent 50th birthday with a reference to her scathing comments.

It was after City’s 3-1 loss to Lyon in the quarter-finals last season that Sedan blamed Guardiola and his tactical tinkering for their surprise exit.

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife Vlada has revealed that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hasn’t forgotten about her criticism of his tactics when they lost to Lyon last August

Guardiola left Zinchenko on the bench as City crashed out of the Champions League to Lyon

Vlada pictured with City manager Guardiola in an Instagram picture in May 2019

Guardiola’s decision to play three central defenders meant left-back Zinchenko spent the whole 90 minutes on the bench as City crashed out.

She said on her YouTube channel: ‘Perhaps I have no right to say this, perhaps Zinchenko will forbid me. But, to put it mildly, and in order not to swear, this is completely Guardiola’s fault.

‘At such a crucial moment, making such a tactical experiment for the club is a bummer.

‘I have no right to criticise but why play three central defenders when the player themselves take their heads.

‘I simply have no words because to have such a line-up… look what players play at Man City, what a bench. Literally few clubs in the world can boast such reserves.’

In scathing criticism just after the game, Vlada Zinchenko criticised Guardiola’s tactics 

The City player had to take time out on his wedding day to clear up his wife’s comments 

Hilariously, Zinchenko took time out on his own wedding day not long after the defeat to clarify his new wife’s comments about Guardiola.

‘In the video you can see her emotions straight after the game and she gave an opinion like all fans do because she wanted us to do better,’ read his statement.

‘We totally understand now that she shouldn’t post it on social media because she is my wife.’

But it seems Guardiola hasn’t quite forgotten what was said. In another YouTube video, Mrs Zinchenko revealed what happened when her husband cracked a little joke with Guardiola on his 50th birthday on January 18.

City crashed out of the Champions League to Lyon at the quarter-final stage last season

She said: ‘It was his birthday – 50 years old. Zina is always Zina. Firstly compliments, best wishes, but then there must be a fly in the ointment.

‘Zina told him, ‘already 50, old age’. Kidding in his own style.

‘Pep looked at him and said: ‘Alex, the most important thing for me is to be liked by your wife and all will be okay…’

Luckily for the defender, his wife’s criticism of Guardiola didn’t cost him his place in the City side. 

Quite the opposite, Zinchenko has played a key role in their recent winning run that has seen them surge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a game still in hand.




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