Hart has made almost 350 appearances for City in all competitions since joining them from Shrewsbury in 2006 and he was one of their most consistent performers last season. However, he has refused to be drawn on the speculation and has instead heaped praise on Hart.
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Money isn’t an issue at the City of Manchester Stadium with players Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure and many more all joining the club in recent years.
Guardiola said: “Since I have been Manchester City manager and we have been together, Joe has been ideal”.
Striker Wilfried Bony, midfielder Samir Nasri and defender Eliaquim Mangala are not in Romania after they were left out of City’s 21-man Champions League squad.
Guardiola admitted after the win against Sunderland that Hart, along with a trio of other players would be upset at being left out.
“But there are two matches, we have to be very focused”. It is going to be tough, the competition is there.
And Guardiola appears to have confirmed his intentions by leaving the 33-year-old at home for City’s Champions League first-leg qualifier against Steaua Bucharest tonight. Goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero put them two goals up at the break, despite the Argentine missing two – yes two – penalties.
“I am not saying he’s not able to do it – with training he can do it”, Guardiola said about Hart’s ability to be his sweeper-keeper. We created a lot of chances, we were solid. “There are still 90 minutes to play. Steaua Bucharest play with long balls and of course Nico is so important”, he added.
“The way to go to the Champions League with the big clubs in Europe is to play with passion, with love in our games and our job”.
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His team mate Marc-André ter Stegen is the club’s bet for the future and the German needs to be playing regularly – a request he made to the club after returning from his holidays.
