Oleksandr Zinchenko’s wife criticized the tactics of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after the Premier League side suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat at the hands of Lyon in the European quarter-final, as per Goal.com.
The Ukrainian defender’s new bride accused the Catalan coach of being at fault for City’s defeat, and now he has tried to clarify his wife’s comments in his latest Instagram post.
The former Barcelona coach surprised many supporters when he chose to make some changes in his tactical approach for the hugely important match in Portugal.
However, his changes didn’t work as the team slumped to an embarrassing defeat with the highly-experienced manager once again failing to win the Champions League after he achieved this feat in 2012.
The player’s wife Vlada Sedan, who is a sports presenter in her native country, criticized the Catalans coach on her YouTube channel wherein she said below:
“You saw what happened. I’m not a football player, not a coach, not a critic or an analyst. I understand that my opinion is not authoritative.
“Perhaps I have no right to say this, and perhaps Zinchenko will forbid me, but to put it mildly, in order not to swear, this is completely Guardiola’s fault.
“At such a crucial moment, using such an experimental tactic for City was a bummer. I have no right to criticise, but why play three central defenders?
“I simply have no words because to have such a line-up. Look at the players City have, what a bench. Literally on a few clubs in the world can boast having such players at substitutes.”
Zinchenko, who joined the club in 2016 and has so far earned 41 Premier League appearances, has issued a statement in which he has tried to clarify these comments.
He said:
“Guys, I need to say a few things about this interview.
“First of all, I didn’t say anything bad or judgmental about our tactics so don’t confuse my words please. I was explaining that we as players understand the effects tactics have and how given we have such great experience, we can adapt to the tactics we are given.
“On the night we lost to Lyon that doesn’t mean the manager was wrong to try. If you have seen my interviews in the past and the way how I talk about our manager then you can believe me. He is No 1.
“Second one about my wife. Although she is a journalist, she is also a fan. During the season she was travelling with us for all away and home games because she is a massive City fan! 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.
“We totally understand now that she shouldn’t post it in the social media because she is my wife but she was not trying to make a journalist’s opinion of the manager of the team, she was simply reacting to her disappointment as a fan.
“I’m writing right now from my wedding and instead of enjoying that unbelievable moment. I have to do this because I can’t leave it like that. I hope you understand.”
