Pellegrini axes Hart 02 November By Chris Wheeler London – Joe Hart has been axed by Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini after a series of high- profile blunders. Hart’s error for Chelsea’s late winner at Stamford Bridge last weekend was the final straw for Pellegrini, who informed the keeper in a face-to-face meeting he was being replaced by Costel Pantilimon for Saturday’s clash against Norwich. The two-metre tall Romanian played in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Newcastle and it is understood he would have considered his future if he had been denied a Barclays Premier League debut on Saturday. Hart is said to have taken the news well and is not questioning his future at the club. The 26-year-old accepts that his confidence has been dented and that he could benefit from a spell out of the spotlight. Having enjoyed a less than harmonious relationship with Roberto Mancini, Hart welcomed Pellegrini’s handling of the situation. The City boss tried to keep his decision a secret on Friday, saying he would not tell the players until on Friday night. “It is a decision I have to take every week with the 22 players,” said Pellegrini. “I am careful with all the players. I can’t answer for Joe how disappointed he was (at Chelsea). He is a football player and every week he has the same pressure. “Costel does not play too often but I see the players every day. I’m always talking with all of them, not only when they are in a bad moment. “Normally I tell them the night before so they can sleep knowing if they will play. (On Saturday) we will see and after I can answer questions.” Pantilimon’s 13 games for City have all come in cup matches, though he was axed from the FA Cup final in May after been told by Mancini he would start. “For a keeper it is difficult,” Pantilimon said at the time. “‘Players in other positions get to play for a few minutes but it’s not like that for a keeper. It is normal I want to play.” Pantilimon was coaxed to stay at the club after Mancini’s departure but has continued to look frustrated, and sources close to him said on Friday he could well have asked for a move if Hart had earned another stay of execution. The 26-year-old has a year left on his contract and is worried about his international prospects if he is not playing regular football. As if to prove the point on Friday, he was left out of Romania’s squad for their World Cup play-off against Greece. Hart’s international prospects could also suffer now. He had already been criticised for mistakes against Cardiff and Bayern Munich this season before an ill-judged dash off his line led to Fernando Torres’ 90th-minute winner for Chelsea last Sunday. England manager Roy Hodgson gave the keeper a vote of confidence before the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland but may now reconsider. Ex-England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence warned on Friday that Hart’s critics risk “destroying” him. “Joe Hart is the best goalkeeper England have got,” he said. “We all have bad times. What we have to be careful of is getting on somebody’s back and destroying their confidence.” City could line up at the Etihad on Saturday with no Englishman in their team, despite being without captain Vincent Kompany for the next three games after he aggravated a thigh injury. – Daily Mail
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 14:39:12 +0000
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