The Nigeria global is now seen as the second-choice striker at the Etihad Stadium and says he is learning from teammate Aguero as well as new City boss Guardiola.
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Claudio Bravo is expected in Manchester as early as Thursday to finalise his move to Pep Guardiola’s City, Sky sources understand.
He maintained on Tuesday that he will continue working with Joe Hart at Manchester City.
With City 5-0 up going into the second leg of a play-off tie to decide who advances to the group phase, boss Pep Guardiola has made a decision to reinstate Hart for one game.
“I can not deny what everyone knows”, he replied. “But until a deal is complete, I can not answer”.
City boast a commanding first-leg advantage over Steaua courtesy of a 5-0 win in the Romanian capital last week secured courtesy of a hat-trick from Sergio Aguero – who also missed two penalties – and efforts from David Silva and Nolito.
England manager Sam Allardyce has said Hart’s situation is “a concern” but that he would pick the player in his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on 4 September. “I have an excellent relationship with Joe, him with me”.
Alistair Mann: “In many ways it will be Manchester City’s away performances which will define how different they’ve become under Pep Guardiola, and with domestic trips to Stoke, Manchester United, Swansea and Spurs in the next six weeks we won’t have to wait long to find out”.
“I said to the players: ‘I am sorry but we are not already in the Champions League”.
Guardiola does not think Hart is good enough with his feet to fulfil the role he wants from his goalkeeper.
Joe Hart could return for Manchester City as his long-term replacement looks on at the Etihad Stadium tonight.
Bravo has impressed during his stint at Barcelona and will take on a more active role in distributing and dictating play from in behind the City backline.
“Overall there were elements of our game I was pleased with, but other elements we need to improve on because they are the ones that cost us the game”.
The value in backing a heavy home win is enhanced when one accounts for the fact that City have won three and lost none of their last five Champions League home games and reached the semi-finals of the competition last season. Against West Ham is it not possible for him to play.
Asked if any approaches have been received for Hart, who has also been linked with Sevilla, Guardiola said: “I am not able to speak (about that) because I do not know what is going on”.
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Team-mate Kevin De Bruyne said: “He’s a great player”. We can’t achieve anything with just 11 or 12 players. That is why we are a little surprised about how fast, in some moments, we have been in our three games: we played really good. These players and club deserve it.
