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Manchester City are still the team to beat, says goalkeeper Joe Hart

Image: Joe Hart: Confident Man City will bounce back next season

Joe Hart has insisted that Manchester City are 'not a flash in the pan' and will bounce back next season, while he views Monday's derby at Old Trafford as a chance to start repairing the damage.

Learning

City have produced a number of scintillating performances this season but at other times they have not quite been at their best and Hart has been frustrated that they have not always been able to grind out results. "In various games we just haven't done it," said Hart. "Every team will say you need at least eight performing and sometimes we haven't had that. "Other times we've had all 11 performing in one game and won easily, rather than balancing it out, which was maybe the case last season. "We're still learning, but would like to learn fast. When we have had a backwards step we try to push on. "Sometimes we just needed a bit more, while we had too much in some games and not enough in others. We're still in the FA Cup and have second place to cement, so there's plenty to play for, but we'd prefer to be snapping at United's heels." Hart has faced criticism at times this season, notably after his performance in the 3-1 loss at Southampton, but he remains unmoved by the flak. "You move on and get on with it," he said. "It was pretty obvious what went wrong - a schoolboy would have been disappointed, let alone myself. "The only things I can look at when I do something like that are: Have I prepared right? Of course I have. Did I do my best? Of course I did. "It happens sometimes. If you have done something wrong you take the criticism from those who matter to you, and everyone else is free to speak how they want to."

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