Soccer:Joe Hart believes Shay Given should be left to decide whether he quits Manchester City after being axed as first-choice goalkeeper. Hart was controversially selected ahead of Given for yesterday's Premier League opener at Tottenham, intensifying speculation the latter will ask to leave the club.
The build-up to the game saw both men threaten to quit if they found themselves out of the side and Given must now decide whether to follow through.
There appears little chance of the 34-year-old Republic of Ireland star regaining the number one jersey in the near future after Hart fully justified his selection at White Hart Lane with a world-class man-of-the-match display.
Manager Roberto Mancini insisted afterwards he would fight to keep Given at the club. But Hart, who also cemented his status as England number one in front of the watching Fabio Capello, reckons it is up to Given whether he jumps ship.
“Me and Shay both have the same opinions in the fact that we both want to be playing football,” the 23-year-old said. “It’s not my business; it’s Shay’s business. He’s an experienced guy who’s been in football for years, so he’ll know what to do.”
Hart revealed he had spoken to Given after learning he had got the nod in goal yesterday.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the guy,” he added. “He’s an inspiration keeper-wise and as a person he’s great, someone I really look up to and someone I really respect.
“He’s been different class and I’m sure whether it’s here or whether it’s somewhere else, he’ll come again and show what a fine keeper he is.”
That is precisely what Hart did yesterday as he pulled off a series of stunning first-half saves to secure a goalless draw against Spurs.
The result left mega-rich City’s top-four credentials no clearer as their multi-million-pound signings went AWOL for the opening 45 minutes before finally turning up after the break.
It would have been too late but for Hart, although the keeper insisted centre-backs Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany also deserved praise for some last-gasp interventions.