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

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.

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.'

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.

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.