Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Joe Hart is "not happy" about being left out of the starting lineup for his side's opening match of the Premier League season.
Hart's future at the Etihad Stadium was thrown into doubt when Guardiola chose Wilfredo Caballero ahead of the England number one during his side's 2-1 win over Sunderland yesterday.
However, Guardiola hinted that the decision was due to the fact that Hart needed an extended break after Euro 2016, and stressed that he had not yet settled on a first-choice keeper.
"I'm pretty sure he is not happy. All the players who don't play aren't sacked, they're absent. Of course I would not be happy if absent, but now it is 'try again'. I am sorry, I have to decide [on the team]. We have 28 players. They have to convince me on the pitch," he told reporters.
"Maybe the next game it changes, maybe not. I needed the build-up and to use the goalkeeper to play quicker to arrive the balls behind the line. Willy had this quality first of all, he trained more times. He arrived on the first day.
"That doesn't mean Joe can't do that. I know the quality of Joe, he is an amazing goalkeeper. He plays for the national team and he was so important for the two Premier League [title] wins. The personality, the character, I know about."
City are back in action on Tuesday, when they take on Steaua Bucuresti in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying match.
Barney Corkhill
