Thursday 25 August 2016 11:43, UK
Joe Hart is a Manchester City "legend" says manager Pep Guardiola who defended his decision to sideline the goalkeeper for the start of the season.
It was an emotional night on Wednesday for Hart who was handed the captain's armband and recalled as he helped them reach the Champions League group stage with a 1-0 win and 6-0 aggregate victory over Steaua Bucharest.
After being left on the bench for the first three games of the season, the England goalkeeper looks set to leave after 10 years at the club with Guardiola closing on the signing of Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.
The 29-year-old Hart said he "enjoyed every moment" of the match, receiving a hero's reception with the fans cheering his name throughout and showing banners underling their affections.
Hart, whose poster has been removed from outside the Etihad Stadium, revealed after the match his situation had become a "circus" but was being "handled well", while Guardiola insisted decisions over personnel would be his alone.
"I know he is a legend for this club," the Spaniard said. "I know part of what the club has become - one of the reasons is Joe.
"They won the Premier League, the cup. He helped to make this team one step above. I am so happy how the people treat him and love him.
"But I am here to take decisions. I make a lot of mistakes - my decisions in my career as a coach are sometimes good, sometimes bad, but I take decisions.
"I try to be honest with myself. I can't deny what I feel. I was honest with Joe, I was honest with the club and all the players in the squad. The people must follow me. Right now Joe is a player for Manchester City and when I believe he has to play he will play."
Hart, has been reportedly linked with a move away from City since losing his place to Willy Caballero at the start of the campaign.
City supporters made their feelings on the sudden demotion of Hart clear throughout, but it seems unlikely he will have a part to play in the new Guardiola era.
If it does prove to be a farewell appearance on Wednesday night, Hart was at least given a good send-off from the supporters and he gave all sides of the ground the thumbs-up as he left the field.
"That was a really special night for me," Hart said. "We all know there's a situation going on, but outside the circus we're handling it really well. It was a special night for us, and it was also a really nice night for me.
"This is a special place for me, that's never been a secret. Tonight was really nice, I really appreciate the people at Manchester City and they appear to appreciate me.
"We're going to come up with a solution. Tonight I played for Manchester City and I enjoyed every moment of it. It's a place I'd love to be. But situations occur in football but we're men and we get on with it."
Bravo's passing ability has been cited as key for Guardiola and after his 100 per cent pass completion rate against Steaua Bucharest, Hart joked: "Wow, pigs do fly don't they?"
UEFA has confirmed the Shrewsbury-born keeper will still be available to play in the Champions League or Europa League for another team should he leave City.
