Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stated that goalkeeper Joe Hart will keep his place in the first team set up at the club, with the keeper set to retain his number 1 jersey for the boxing day clash against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Hart returned to the side for Saturday’s impressive 4-2 victory away at Fulham, where the keeper pulled off some important saves, as City continued their impressive run in the Premier League.
Hart played his first Premier League game since the 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea, on the 27th October, were a Hart mistake allowed Fernando Torres to stab home a winner, in comical circumstances.
Since that error, Hart has been confined to the sidelines, as Costal Pantilimon had started ahead of the England international.
Pellegrini stated……
“He deserved to play and he also deserves to continue,”
In every match, we could play with 11 different starters, but at the moment Joe will continue to play.”
Pellegrini added: “Joe did well and it was not easy. The pitch was very quick and there was a lot of wind but he had a very good game.”
Romanian Costel Pantilimon played in City’s next seven Premier League matches, with Hart only appearing in two Champions League games and a League Cup quarter-final against Championship side Leicester.
“When I put Pantilimon in the starting XI, I spoke with Joe and he understood he was not in a good moment,” said Pellegrini, who said it was “a tough decision” to make the change.
“We have a squad and I have to make the decision every week who will play, not only Joe Hart.”tilimon was also doing well but I thought this game would be better for Joe,” added the Chilean.
Hart has only sinced featured in Champions League games against Plzen, and Bayern Munich since the mistake.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
