City’s skipper won’t be on the pitch in France but could still be on our screens – more of that later – while Sagna and Hart should be, and they’ve both been speaking to the press of late.
The France full-back is energised by the prospect of working with Pep Guardiola next season, and has been looking forward to a new era at City on Goal.com.
“I’d like to stay. Now, how it happens, we’ll see. We’ll see what [Guardiola] thinks. He is a great coach, this is exciting.
“For now, my focus is on City. I take things as they come. first step is the Euros - then we’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Joe’s penalty-saving prowess is deservedly praised by Sam Wallace in the Telegraph, who assesses the City’s stopper’s skills ahead of the almost inevitable spot-kick shoot-out England will have to endure this summer.
Italia 90, Euro 96, France 98….the file marked ‘Penalty Heartbreak’ goes ever on, but at least Joe has form for stopping some of the world’s best from 12 yards for both club and country, as Sam points out.
“The Manchester City goalkeeper has accumulated an impressive array of scalps from 12 yards for club and country since he was sent the wrong way by (Italy’s Andrea) Pirlo at Euro 2012.
“Perhaps the most prestigious of them all being a great save to his left from Lionel Messi in the Champions League for Manchester City against Barcelona in February 2013.
“That turned into a great month for Hart when he also stopped a spot-kick from another master of the craft, Frank Lampard, at Stamford Bridge.
The Manchester City goalkeeper has accumulated an impressive array of scalps from 12 yards for club and country
Sam Wallace
Daily Telegraph
“February 2013 also featured that incredible penalty save from Ronaldinho at Wembley when Hart, on international duty for England against Brazil, got up to stop the rebound and then a third attempt.
“In April this year in Paris, Hart went down low to his right to save one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Champions League and you have to fancy that his track record will be in the mind of any potential penalty taker against England this month in France.”
And how does he do it? Joe tells Sam, “I have always had the mentality of thinking what is the best moment [to dive],” he says.
“Of believing in what I am doing. I have got it wrong many, many times but I have always believed I know what they are thinking or what they are going to do.”
And it turns out that Vincent Kompany may be in France, but, Squawka via Belgium’s Le Soir claims, as a pundit with the BBC.
There’s even a snippet of transfer gossip linking, albeit extremely vaguely, City to Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre Aubameyang. Daniel Cousin, a former Gabon international, feels the striker would be well suited to life in the Premier League, and is quoted thus in the Daily Star:
“I think he wants to move to England. The Premier League is a different style to Germany; it’s more physical and, for me, it’s a good moment for Pierre to move to a big club like Manchester United or Manchester City.”
I said it was vague! Enjoy your Tuesday!
