Manchester City1 Steaua Bucharest 0 (Man City win 6-0 on agg)
Joe Hart refused to deny that his Manchester City career is over after a 1-0 win against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday night confirmed Pep Guardiola's side a place in the draw on Thursday for the Champions League group stage.
City’s manager gave Hart a first start of the season, having dropped him as the side’s No 1, and also made him captain. City fans showed their support throughout and at one point Hart seemed moved nearly to tears.
However, the Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who flew into Manchester on Tuesday, is expected to sign and become Hart’s replacement. Asked about his future Hart, 29, said: “It’s not for me to say. It is what it is. You probably know better than me.”
Hart has been demoted because Guardiola believes he is not accomplished enough with his feet. When it was put to Hart that he had a 100 per cent pass completion rate against Steaua, the England international responded: “Well pigs do fly don’t they?”
With regard to whether he has been judged too soon, Hart said: “It’s a situation, we have a top manager that the club has wanted for a long, long time and he will have his opinion on things and outside of the charade and all the rubbish that is being talked, we are dealing with it like men inside and we will come up with a solution. Tonight I played for Man City and I enjoyed it and I have done every time I have played for Man City.”
Guardiola has stated he had no doubt about his decision to drop Hart despite the player’s distinguished history at the club he joined from Shrewsbury Town in 2006 for an initial £600,000.
“I am here to take decisions. I make a lot of mistakes,” Guardiola said. “Some good and some bad but I try to be honest. I can’t deny what I feel. I was honest with Joe and all the players in the squad. Joe right now is a player for Man City and if he has to play he will play. I am so happy that today he played at the level he has.
“Joe is still a player for us. I know he is a legend for this club. One of the reasons the club is what it is. I know he helped make this team one step above so I am so happy the players treat him like this and love him. He solved their few chances they had without a problem.”
Guardiola was unsure if Bravo will receive a good reception from fans when he first plays. “I don’t know. They can express what they feel,” the 45-year-old said.
“I would like all my decisions to make everyone happy but it is impossible. You have to take a decision to impact on the life of the players. We have 28 players: 17 cannot play.
“From the beginning I arrive here with a lot of information and I analyse. I have to take a decision and I cannot deny what I feel. If the fans are not happy I can understand. He has done more than I might do at this club. These guys like [David] Silva, Yaya [Toure] make this club how it is.
“It’s not a club with European history. I am here and I must take a decision. The people – some will agree and some will not. I’m not always right but I have to take the decision. That’s why City asked me to be the new manager.”
Hart said that he had been touched by the support he received from fans during a match won by a Fabian Delph’s second-half header which gave City a 6-0 aggregate victory. “That was a really special night for me,” Hart said.
“I have had a lot of good nights situation going on but I feel that inside, outside of all the circus, we are handling it well as a good team with a good management staff, and I enjoyed tonight.
“It is a place I love to be but situations occur in football but we are men, we get on with it. I really appreciate the people of Man City and it turns out they appreciate me.”
(Guardian service)
