It’s not been the best of times for Joe Hart.
The England goalkeeper has found himself dropped as Pep Guardiola’s new regime takes effect at Manchester City.
The 29-year-old’s torrid time actually began during Euro 2016 and a high-profile blunder against Iceland to drop England out of the tournament didn’t help things. And things haven’t got much better since.
City stalwart Hart, who joined the club in 2006, was handed a start by Guardiola against Steaua Bucharest in the second leg for his first competitive game under his new coach.
He took the opportunity with both hands (genuinely no pun intended) and produced a solid performance between the sticks and kept a clean sheet as City ran out 1-0 winners, getting through to the Champions League proper 6-0 on aggregate.
If it’s the final game he plays for City, fans at the Etihad gave him a good send off with the England number one fighting back the tears as ‘Stand up if you love Joe Hart’ was belted out from the terraces.
He was full of emotion in a post match interview but he was still able to laugh at himself as the interviewer commended him for completing all of his passes on the night.
“Wow. Pigs do fly, don’t they?” he quipped, with a grin on his face.
But he also took the opportunity to explain his current situation at City, saying:
“It was a special night for me. I’ve had a lot of good nights in football, but it was a nice night.
“We all know there’s a situation going on but I feel that outside of all the circus we’re handling well as a good team with a good management staff. It was a special night for us and a really nice night for me.”
He was then asked about the fans chanting his name and calling for him not to be sold an whether it ‘brought a lump to his throat.’
“Yes it does,” he said. “This is a special place for me, there’s never been any secret made of that. It’s a place I love to be. But situations occur in football but we’re men and we get on with it.
“But tonight was really nice and it’s a special place for me and I really appreciate the people of Manchester City and it turns out they appreciate me so it’s a nice feeling.”
Hart was asked if he thinks his abilities have been judged too soon by City’s new boss. But Hart is confident a solution will be found.
“It’s a situation you know. We’ve got a top manager that the club has wanted for a long time and he’s going to have his opinion on things.
“Like I say, outside of the charade and all the rubbish that’s talked, we’re dealing with it like men inside and we’re going to find a solution.”
Hart, however, refused to comment on whether he knows what comes next, simply responding:
“It’s not for me to say. It is what it is.”
https://youtu.be/pQV315J0JrA
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
