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Joe Hart says Manchester City must guarantee Champions League place

Joe Hart has trained with Manchester City
Image: Joe Hart has called for Manchester City look ahead to their clash with Arsenal

Joe Hart hopes to brush aside his Champions League heartache and ensure Manchester City are back in the competition next season.

City's bid to reach the final ended in semi-final disappointment as they were beaten 1-0 by 10-time winners Real Madrid at Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Having come so far, goalkeeper Hart is hungry for more and attention must quickly switch to the battle for a top-four place in the Premier League.

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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists Manchester City made it difficult for his side in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie

Fourth-placed City are being challenged for their Champions League spot by Manchester United and West Ham and they now face a crucial game at home to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday.

"Roll on Sunday," said Hart. "I'm looking forward to it. We go again to cement our place in the Champions League.

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 04:  Gareth Bale of Real Madrid competes for a header with Yaya Toure and Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions
Image: Gareth Bale challenges with Yaya Toure and Eliaquim Mangala
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"It is important for the club and for me personally. Nights like Wednesday are amazing and I want to keep them coming."

Missing out on the Champions League next season would be a setback for City just as they finally look to be coming of age in the competition. A campaign in the Europa League - in which City are at least guaranteed entry following their Capital One Cup success - was not the plan when they signed up Pep Guardiola as their next manager.

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Hart said: "There is not a lot we can take from this night but in the Champions League this year we have grown and shown some good moments. We are going to have to take that into next year.

"It is not a bright moment losing a semi-final when we'd like to think we could have done a lot better. But we didn't and we are out."

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