Joe Hart played potentially his last Manchester City game as Pep Guardiola’s team rubber-stamped their place in the Champions League group phase by beating Steaua Bucharest 1-0 on Wednesday. I know what he did at this club.
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Guardiola did not say Hart’s time is up at the club, though he did hint that could be the case.
The 29-year-old was given an emotional send off by the Etihad crowd and said: “That was a really special night for me”.
“I would like if everyone was happy with all the decisions I take but that’s impossible”.
Barcelona have already formally announced that Claudio Bravo will be leaving Barcelona for English Premier League side Manchester City. “I like when the people support him”.
I appreciate the fans, it turns out they appreciate me.
One group of fans held a banner reading “A GOOD HART THESE DAYS IS HARD TO FIND” and a chant of “Don’t sell Joe Hart!” broke out within seconds of kick-off.
“Pigs do fly, don’t they”, Hart joked on BT Sport when told about the stat.
Guardiola acknowledged Hart’s legendary status at the club but insisted decisions have to be made, no matter how unpopular they might be.
City had the best of the few chances that were created in the first half with Aleksandar Kolarov teeing up Kelechi Iheanacho, Nolito meeting a Jesus Navas cross with an acrobatic effort and Toure hitting the target.
Hart seemed genuinely touched by choruses of “Stand up if you love Joe Hart” and “Once a Blue, always a Blue” but any notion of a tearful goodbye was put on hold as he sharply kept out Stanciu’s free-kick and Tudorie’s close-range attempt from the resulting corner – the sum of a belated and brief Steaua rally. In fact, it wasn’t until the 54th minute that the Blues finally forced Valentin Cojocaru to make his first save as Fabian Delph’s low drive was parried behind by the Steaua keeper. Coach Laurentiu Reghecampf had said he was resigned to defeat in the tie on the eve of the match and his indifference was reflected in the visitors’ performance.
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A straightforward evening for Guardiola took an unwelcome twist towards the end when Iheanacho pulled up abruptly as he chased a through ball and had to be stretchered off.
