Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the door was not closed for club stalwarts like Joe Hart and Yaya Toure despite dropping them for his first Premier League game. Of course I would not be happy if absent, but now it is “try again”.
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Caballero was a shock inclusion ahead of Joe Hart for Saturday’s opening 2-1 Premier League win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium, boss Guardiola identifying the 34-year-old’s extra time on the training field during pre-season as a factor in making him more suited to an approach that values building attacks from deep than the England worldwide. The Catalan giant values their goalkeeper at around $46.5 million dollars, but the English club doesn’t want to pay anything over $27 million as they know that the Spanish champions already possess a quality backup in the form of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. I think that a transfer in the region of £20m would be good business for Everton if they are able to get Hart.
Reports in Spain claim that a deal for the latter is nearly complete as Guardiola looks for a “footballing” goalkeeper capable of playing out from the back.
Maarten Stekelenburg’s excellent performance in Everton’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham has left some at Goodison Park believing the Dutchman, who arrived from Fulham in July, can establish himself as No1 – but Hart’s position has given them a decision to make.
“Sometimes we are taking risks when we pass the ball in our back and my first pass was really, really complicated because they could have scored”, Caballero told reporters.
City prevailed courtesy of an 87th-minute own goal by Sunderland debutant Paddy McNair, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes.
“I’m pretty sure he is not happy”, said Guardiola. “That’s why you have to create more chances”.
“I expect him to stay”. He was great today, he was great yesterday.
It’s also sad that Hart’s service to the club hasn’t been factored into the decision it appears to dump him. We have 28 players and a lot of players injured like [Ilkay] Gundogan, like Samir like many, many players.
“But I want us to have more of the ball”, said the former Manchester United manager.
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“Two or three players have arrived in the last week”.
