Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has stated that he thinks that Joe Hart is the best goalkeeper in England, following City’s 2-1 win against title rivals Liverpool.
Hart made several key saves in the win at the Etihad yesteday as City stormed to the top of the table in emphatic fashion in the tea time fixture on Boxing day.
Hart was dropped by Pellegrini in late October after his mistake cost City the game, in a 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea, and was replaced in Premier League fixtures by Romanian shot stopper Costal Pantilimon.
The Keeper returned for the Champions League games against Plzen and Bayern Munich, but found himself benched in domestic League games.
Hart then returned to Premier League action after a month on the bench, and impressed during City’s 4-2 win at relegation thretened Fulham.
The Chilean said: “He has worked very hard in the last month and a half. He is the best goalkeeper in England.”
Saves from Hart to deny Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson helped City claim a victory over Liverpool that moved them into second place in the table, one point behind Arsenal.
“I am very pleased with Joe – not only now but I think in all the games he played in the last month – he did very well,” Pellegrini added.
“I thought it was good for Joe to have a rest. He was not in his best moment.”
Hart’s form had come into critisism, with high profile mistakes earlier in the season, with notable mistakes in England’s game against Scotland, and Premier League games away at Aston Villa and Cardiff City.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
