Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart got a standing ovation following the Champions League play-off win over Steaua Bucharest.
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Guardiola is determined to start moves at the back with a goalkeeper who is “able to play with the ball” and has explained that Hart is free to leave if he is unhappy.
The Argentina worldwide took his tally to six goals from City’s first three games after scoring twice in the 4-1 victory over Stoke City as they maintained their ideal start to the season.
The Chilean worldwide is reportedly flying in from Spain to finalise a £17m ($22.4m) switch from Barcelona that will see him become the club’s new first-choice goalkeeper.
“I have an excellent relationship with Joe”, he added.
“It was not easy with 10 players behind the ball but in the second half we adjusted and attacked much better”.
“I can not deny what everyone knows”, added Guardiola.
“But, I’m sorry guys, until a deal is complete or not complete, I will be open to answer questions about one player but until that moment he is not our player”.
“Until the 31st of this month, all the players here are our players and I work with them like there is no end. We were clear, him with me and I with him and we spoke about our football”. I’m not involved to speak.
Anytime a player can miss two penalties and still finish the game with a hat-trick, you know that you have witnessed a rout and that was precisely the scenario which unfolded as Sergio Aguero helped Manchester City to a 0-5 first-leg victory in Romania last week.
Guardiola’s charges continued their scoring spree at the weekend, putting four past Stoke City in the Premier League and the hosts may view this match as an opportunity to send a further message to their rivals for the Champions League crown by handing out another hammering to their Romanian opponents. That’s why I tried to insist to the players how important it is.
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“Hopefully, when we come back from the worldwide break, they will be a full part of our training sessions”. Joe Hart and Yaya Toure have a chance to play tomorrow. “I am going to sit with my people and going to see which players need more training than play, which players have more minutes in their legs”. The experinced keeper kept 18 clean sheets in 47 apperances for City last season. Against West Ham is it not possible for him to play. I know some managers prefer to play on the counter-attack.
