The new season of the Spanish Segunda División has begun for the Catalan side Girona not with football victories, but with a loud internal scandal. After relegation from La Liga and the appointment of Quique Álvarez as head coach, the team has faced a serious disciplinary crisis. At the center of attention are the club's Ukrainian legionnaires — Viktor Tsygankov and Vladyslav Vanat, whose actions (or inaction) in the first-round match against Leganés led to accusations of professional incompetence and even a fight in the locker room.
Refusal to take the field: the coach's version
The first-round match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, became the catalyst for the conflict. Head coach Quique Álvarez made a shocking statement to the press after the game. According to him, Viktor Tsygankov, who was supposed to come on as a substitute, categorically refused to change and prepare to enter the field. The coach noted that the midfielder remained in the stands watching the game and emphasized that he had never before encountered such behavior from a professional footballer. Álvarez also reported that Vladyslav Vanat was called out to warm up but also ignored the staff's instruction.
Fight in the locker room and player boycott
The situation escalated after the publication of information by the Spanish publication AS. Journalists reported that after the match, a scuffle took place in the locker room involving Tsygankov and a member of the medical staff. Furthermore, it became known that the boycott was joined not only by the Ukrainians but also by Moroccan midfielder Azeddine Ounahi. Dutchman Donny van de Beek also watched the match from the stands, having not made the squad. Journalist Neil Solà confirmed that Vanat indeed refused to follow the coach's instructions, creating an atmosphere of tension within the team.
Contradictory data
The version of the head coach and Spanish media came into sharp contradiction with the statement of Vladyslav Vanat himself. The striker categorically denied the accusations of refusing to play. According to the footballer, he did indeed begin to prepare to come on as a substitute and was putting on his kit, but the situation on the field changed: a central defender got injured. The coaching staff, having only one substitution available, decided to bring on a more defensive player instead of Vanat. The forward claims that he personally discussed the incident with Álvarez, who assured him of his lack of guilt and admitted that the press information was untrue.
Preconditions for the conflict and the future of the players
The conflict has deep roots going back to the summer transfer window. Viktor Tsygankov completely missed the pre-season preparation, which raised questions for the new coach. It was previously reported that Girona was ready to sell the midfielder for €10 million, but no buyer was found. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the Ukrainians were among the most productive players in the previous season. Vanat scored 10 goals, while Tsygankov scored seven goals and provided five assists. Now their future in the club, which is fighting to return to the elite, is in question.
