Joe Hart has revealed details of the conversation with Pep Guardiola that led to the end of Man City career.
Joe Hart has revealed details of his conversation with Pep Guardiola that led to the end of his Manchester City career.
Hart was the first-choice goalkeeper at the Etihad Stadium, but when Guardiola arrived in 2016, the Englishman soon found himself falling down the pecking order behind Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero.
The 34-year-old returned to City early in the summer of 2016 ahead of pre-season to have a chat with Guardiola over his future. And on the latest episode of In the Stiffs podcast, Hart has revealed the painful details of that conversation.
He said: “I wanted to get in the door and have this conversation. He was very knowledgeable on my background, very knowledgeable on what we did, how I played football, it was a two-hour conversation that kind of ended with him saying “I can’t see this working”.
“I said “I don’t agree with you”. He said “I’ll be the first person to be proved wrong but what I see in you isn’t what I want from my goalkeeper”. I was like “it’s only fair I be given the opportunity”. He said “of course you’ll be given the opportunity, but…”. As soon as there are any ‘buts’ at the end you know there’s a decision.
“I wanted the opportunity to be coached by one of the best at it. Of course I didn’t know how to do it, why would I know how to do something that I’d never been asked to do or taught to do?
“I suppose he was right, I couldn’t do it, he couldn’t just drop me into a team to play like he wanted to at that moment in time. It was taken away from me, but so what?
“I’m not bigger than anyone and if that’s my path then that’s my path. The people of Manchester City will forever be in my heart, I’ll forever be grateful for that, but the team, the hierarchy, they’re businessmen.”
Hart went on to have short spells at Burnley and Tottenham before signing for Celtic last season where he is first-choice goalkeeper now.
City, meanwhile, eventually signed Ederson, who has held his post between the sticks for the Premier League champions since 2017. Guardiola’s side are back in action this weekend when they travel to Burnley on Saturday looking to extend their lead at the top of the league table.
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