Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that forcing Joe Hart out of the club remains one of his biggest regrets during his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola, who is preparing for his final match in charge of Manchester City against Aston Villa, reflected on several decisions made during his successful 10-year spell at the club, admitting he should have given Hart the opportunity to prove himself under his system.
The Spanish coach sent Hart on loan to Italian side Torino shortly after arriving at City in 2016 before bringing in Claudio Bravo and later Ederson as his preferred goalkeepers.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola confessed that he still regrets not allowing Hart to compete for his place despite the goalkeeper’s desire to adapt to his style of play.
“I should have given Joe Hart a chance to prove himself,” Guardiola said, admitting that while Claudio Bravo and Ederson were important signings, he now feels he could have handled the situation differently.
The former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss described himself as stubborn with decisions he strongly believes in, but acknowledged that managers are not always fair when making difficult choices.
Guardiola also revealed that managing players’ emotions, especially those left out of the team, has been one of the toughest aspects of his managerial career despite winning multiple trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first UEFA Champions League crown.
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