Joe Hart says ‘pigs can fly’ after flawless passing display against Steaua

Hart was restored to the City starting XI for the first and most likely last time under Pep Guardiola, who has preferred Willy Caballero in goal during the opening weeks of the season and sanctioned a move for Claudio Bravo, with the Chile worldwide expected to complete his move from Barcelona before the end of this week.

But the home fans had other preoccupations and after a chant of “Stand up if you love Joe Hart!” had drawn nearly everyone in the ground to their feet, his first save, from Adrian Popa, prompted a huge cheer.

The Spaniard said: “Joe is still a player of us”. I know part of what the club has become – one of the reasons is Joe. “He helped make City one step above, with success in the Premier League and the cups, so I am so happy with how people treat him”.

‘I have to take decisions. Some will agree, some will not agree.

‘I was honest with Joe, I was honest with the club and all the players in the squad.

“Until the 31st of this month, all the players here are our players and I work with them like there is no end”.

“He knows when I arrive my decision, what I think about that position”.

Hart’s future at City remains uncertain with the club poised to complete the signing of Chile worldwide Claudio Bravo from Barcelona this week. “It is what it is”.

That was a really special night for me. But tonight was really nice. I can’t deny what I feel.

“It was a special night for us, and it was also a really nice night for me”. “It is a place I love to be, but situations occur in football”.

“Outside of the charade and all the rubbish that has been talked, we’re going to deal with it like men and come up with a solution”. “But we are dealing with it”.

“That’s why Manchester City asked me to be the new manager”.

Guardiola then took the opportunity to send on City academy products Tosin Adarabioyo and Angelino for Champions League debuts, with John Stones and Nolito the men to make way.

“After a short time we made two good games”, he said. He’s scored a header, won us the game and put us in the Champions League. He played the ball outside of the box to an onrushing Jesus Navas, whose cross found Fabian Delph, who nodded down past Steaua goalkeeper Valentin Cojocaru.