Speaking earlier Tuesday at a news conference ahead of City’s match against Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League playoffs, City manager Pep Guardiola said “I can not deny what everybody knows”.
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Because Hart then walked off the training pitch immediately after the pair spoke, footage has given the impression to some they may not get on.
Guardiola dismissed suggestions his relationship with Hart may be a poor one after the pair were seen in animated discussion in training on Tuesday before the goalkeeper walked off the pitch.
“I can not deny what everyone knows, Barcelona was the first – one week or 10 days ago – who announced the contact with Manchester City”, Guardiola told a press conference. “I am clear with him, him with me”, he said.
Reghecampf is already resigned to defeat in his side’s Champions League play-off against City, having lost the first leg 5-0 in the Romanian capital last week. I’ve said many times he’s our player.
Nigerian youngster Kelechi Iheanacho faced the media alongside Guardiola and could come in for Aguero, with the Spaniard confirming he will rotate his squad.
Speculation a deal could be imminent has now increased after Bravo was pictured at the airport in Barcelona reportedly preparing to board a flight to Manchester.
Steaua will hope to salvage some pride at Etihad after they drew their weekend Liga I fixture against the city rivals Dinamo (1-1) and are now trailing behind them one point in the championship (although having a game to spare).
“So I can’t deny what everybody knows. Barcelona were the first ones who announced contact with Manchester City but, sorry, the deal is not complete”. “After that I will be open to answer questions but in this moment he is not our player”. Yet in staying at City he will in effect be third choice, behind Bravo and Willy Caballero.
However, Guardiola said he has the chance of being recalled to his starting lineup for Steaua in what could be his final game for the club, with Everton and Sevilla linked with a move for the 29-year-old. “I am not able to speak about negotiations”.
The ruthless decisions to drop Hart and another club linchpin, Yaya Toure, has detracted a little from City’s winning start to the season.
Heavy rotations are not expected for the hosts – some players could get a deserved rest but it’s likely Guardiola will try to use every opportunity to raise the team cohesion and make the players understand him more. Everybody knows it’s not done until it’s done.
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“I like to play with a short squad with three, four or five players who are multi-functional”.
