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Manchester City Player's Wife Calls Out Pep Guardiola Following Lyon Defeat

Manchester City Player's Wife Calls Out Pep Guardiola Following Lyon Defeat

City were eliminated from the Champions League after a shock 3-1 defeat to Lyon in the quarter-finals.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Oleksandr Zinchenko's wife has criticised Pep Guardiola for his part in Manchester City's Champions League elimination - with the left-back apologising in a statement.

City were knocked out of the competition in the quarter-finals after a 3-1 defeat to French underdogs Lyon.

Guardiola was criticised following the game for switching to a three man defence rather than sticking with his usual formation.

Zinchenko's other half, presenter Vlada Sedan, fumed that the defeat fell "completely" on the Spaniard's shoulders.

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PA

"You saw what happened," Sedan vented on her YouTube channel. "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.

"It's one thing to be knocked out by Bayern, but it's another to get knocked out by Lyon. I don't want to cause offence to the team, but I want to remind you that this is the side that finished in seventh place in the French championship."

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PA

Ukrainian international Zinchenko, who was on the bench for the loss, has since taken to Instagram to try and explain the situation.

"Guys, I need to say a few things about this interview," the 23-year-old begun per Manchester Evening News.

"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.

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PA

"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 number one.

"Second one about my wife," he continued. "Although she is a journalist, she is also a fan. During the all 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 skip it and leave it like that. I hope you understand."

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Football, Pep Guardiola, Man City, Champions League, Lyon