Man City manager Guardiola drops Hart from Premier League opener

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dropped goalkeeper Joe Hart in favour of Willy Caballero for his opening Premier League game against Sunderland on Saturday.

Guardiola has been linked with German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who plays for his former club Barcelona, and cast doubt on Hart’s future during a press conference on Friday.

“Joe is a player I’m so happy about his qualities, his behaviour, what he means to this club,” Guardiola said.

“After, we are going to decide inside the doors. Now, he is a player of us.”

Hart, 29, has been City’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past six seasons, contributing to two Premier League title wins, two League Cup successes and their 2011 FA Cup triumph.

But he had a poor Euro 2016 for England and was at fault for goals in their group-stage win over Wales and last 16 elimination by Iceland.

Caballero, 34, joined City from Malaga in 2014.

The Argentine deputised for Hart in cup competitions last season and saved three penalties as City defeated Liverpool in a shootout in the League Cup final.