Joe Hart Backs Enzo Maresca's Man City Start, Reflects on Guardiola Relationship

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, now a prominent pundit, shared his insights on Enzo Maresca's impressive start at Manchester City during an event at the Puma Manchester City store in Dubai Mall. Hart, who has transitioned smoothly into punditry after retiring from playing, expressed his positive views on Maresca's management.

Maresca has achieved a Premier League record by winning his first seven matches, a significant feat following Pep Guardiola's decade of dominance. Hart noted Maresca's calm demeanor and familiarity with the club's players, having previously served as an assistant to Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. "It feels right," Hart stated, complimenting Maresca's work at Leicester and Chelsea, and emphasizing that a strong start is just the beginning for the new manager's ambitions at Manchester City.

Hart also addressed the challenging period Manchester City is facing off the pitch, with the club appealing financial charges from the Premier League. Despite these off-field issues, Hart believes the team's performances demonstrate a strong spirit and unity. "They seem together. They seem united in how they feel, in how they back the club," he said, highlighting the club's and fans' strong response. He added that the team's focus remains on the pitch, where they are performing brilliantly.

Reflecting on his own departure from Manchester City in 2016, Hart discussed Pep Guardiola's decision to change goalkeepers shortly after his arrival. Guardiola had cited Hart's perceived lack of ability with his feet. Hart described Guardiola's later admission of potentially not giving him enough time to adapt as emotional validation. However, he maintained that their personal relationship remained unaffected, emphasizing the honesty of their past conversations and the unique nature of the goalkeeper position.

"We had some really difficult conversations at the time. Shook hands, hugged, and that was it. It was parked and buried," Hart recalled, indicating that Guardiola's comments were more for the manager himself than for Hart.

Looking ahead, Hart is embracing his role as a pundit and exploring new avenues. While he briefly assisted as a goalkeeping coach at his former club Shrewsbury Town, he has no interest in full-time management or coaching. He recently joined The Overlap's daily program and has been observing coaching sessions at City Football Schools in Abu Dhabi, impressed by the high coaching standards and the growing popularity of the goalkeeper position among young players.