The English and former Manchester City captain and goalkeeper, Joe Hart, might have thought that things would brighten up after the dismal start to the English footballing season. But it looks like bad fortune is following the Englishmen everywhere.
Hart who was Manchester City’s number one choice goalkeeper for over three years now, didn’t “fit” well with the new boss, Pep Guardiola. City loaned the 29 year old to the Italian side Torino. Apart from the fact that Torino got his name wrong on the squad sheet, for the most part, Hart seemed comfortable as his side faced Atalanta away. Hart made an impressive interception to deny a cross inside the box which would have inevitably led to a goal and casually played the sweeper keeper role very well.
However, while defending a corner, Hart palmed the crossed ball instead of claiming it, the ball fell to Masiello’s feet who made no mistake to put Atalanta level. All of this only two minutes after Torino had taken a 0-1 lead.
From there on, Hart had little to look back to. He had a chance to make amends when Atalanta were awarded a late penalty in the 82nd minute. But Frank Kessie sent Hart the other way as he tucked the ball in the right hand corner with a grounded penalty.
This match as a whole could have been Hart’s redemption and a silent message to Pep at City, after his replacement, Claudio Bravo delivered a very below average performance during the Manchester Derby.
Joe Hart has had a year to forget – blunders during the Euros, long lost relationship with Manchester City and a terrible debut with Torino. But the rather young keeper can learn from his experiences at Italy and take back the lessons with him when his loan spells end i.e. by the end of this season.
