MX23RW : Friday, February 7 14:19:17| >> :60:1714:1714:

Manuel Pellegrini: 'Joe Hart understood exclusion'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists that goalkeeper Joe Hart understood that he needed time out of the starting lineup at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed with him that he required time on the sidelines after several high-profile mistakes at the start of the season.

Hart was dropped for second-choice keeper Costel Pantilimon, who featured in nine of the following 11 matches, and Pellegrini believes that he made the right decision in excluding the England international.

Pellegrini told reporters: "I did what I thought was best for the team and Joe Hart.

"At that moment, Joe needed the rest. Maybe he would not say it, but he agreed with me. He realised it."

Hart has featured in City's last four fixtures, including a man-of-the-match display against Crystal Palace last weekend.

ID:127362: cacheID:127362:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1380:
Written by
Darren Plant
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Man City's Joe Hart in action against Viktoria Plzen during their Champions League group match on November 27, 2013
Read Next:
Pellegrini: 'Hart will continue to play'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!