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Manchester City shot-stopper Joe Hart continues war of words with team-mate Shay Given
High tension for Citizen's No.1 jersey...
25 Jul 2010 13:10:00
By Sumeet Paul
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has hit back at team-mate Shay Given's recent comments that he wasn't ready to play for England at World Cup 2010.
The young shot-stopper, who was third choice for the Three Lions in South Africa and failed to feature, was aggrieved to hear Given stating he wasn't ready for the task.
Hart, who was loaned out to Birmingham City last season, has now warned his Eastland's rival that he is desperate to take his No.1 jersey.
Their war of words began when Given backed England manager Fabio Capello's decision to field both Robert Green and David James ahead of Hart in the England pecking order.
Given told reporters: "I think it would have been a bit too early for him [Joe Hart]. If he had made the mistake that Rob [Robert] Green had made then perhaps the whole world would have been on top of him.
“Personally, I think Fabio Capello made the right decision but Joe will disagree with that.”
However, Hart didn't take Given's words kindly and believes that if called upon he would have been ready to become his nation's first-choice between the sticks
“I can’t think like that. It doesn’t interest me one bit. I don’t need to be mollycoddled. I’m a big boy now," Hart told the Mirror.
“I’ve been in situations before where it could have all gone wrong and it could have got blown up - but it hasn’t.
“I know it could do one day but I can take it. I’m not interested in what I’m doing in three or four weeks time. Or in 15 years time. It doesn’t interest me one little bit. I live in the now.
“I went to South Africa the same as all 23 players, wanting to play. Obviously I wanted to play in every game and to put my stamp on it. It hurts when you don’t - but it has just made me hungrier.”
After a successful loan spell with the Blues, Hart was linked with a move to Arsenal earlier this summer. However, City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed reports of his departure and intends to see Hart and Given battle it out for the No.1 jersey at Eastlands.
“All I have ever wanted to do is play games,” added Hart. “I wasn’t getting a chance at [Manchester] City and Birmingham [City] gave me a chance.
“I’ve just turned up at City trying to do the best I can. I just want to play. If that’s not the case I’ll have to reconsider what’s going on. At the moment I’m just really concentrating on getting that number one spot.”
Hart then went on to reveal that he cut his post-World Cup holiday short so he could get back on the training pitch.
He explained: “I love football. I was sitting by the pool on holiday and I wanted to play football with anyone who I had eye contact with. That’s just who I am. A part of me even wanted to come back a bit earlier.
“But I had to recharge the batteries and now I feel fresh. I wanted to become part of what was going on. I was playing football around the pool with anyone going. I tried to get my girlfriend involved.
“She showed a tiny bit of patience, bless her, but she wanted to sunbathe. I really didn’t know anything (about the Arsenal bid). City made it really clear I wasn’t for sale.
“All I want to do is play - whether it’s for England, or it’s by the pool, or it’s for Man City.”
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The young shot-stopper, who was third choice for the Three Lions in South Africa and failed to feature, was aggrieved to hear Given stating he wasn't ready for the task.
Hart, who was loaned out to Birmingham City last season, has now warned his Eastland's rival that he is desperate to take his No.1 jersey.
Their war of words began when Given backed England manager Fabio Capello's decision to field both Robert Green and David James ahead of Hart in the England pecking order.
Given told reporters: "I think it would have been a bit too early for him [Joe Hart]. If he had made the mistake that Rob [Robert] Green had made then perhaps the whole world would have been on top of him.
“Personally, I think Fabio Capello made the right decision but Joe will disagree with that.”
However, Hart didn't take Given's words kindly and believes that if called upon he would have been ready to become his nation's first-choice between the sticks
“I can’t think like that. It doesn’t interest me one bit. I don’t need to be mollycoddled. I’m a big boy now," Hart told the Mirror.
“I’ve been in situations before where it could have all gone wrong and it could have got blown up - but it hasn’t.
“I know it could do one day but I can take it. I’m not interested in what I’m doing in three or four weeks time. Or in 15 years time. It doesn’t interest me one little bit. I live in the now.
“I went to South Africa the same as all 23 players, wanting to play. Obviously I wanted to play in every game and to put my stamp on it. It hurts when you don’t - but it has just made me hungrier.”
After a successful loan spell with the Blues, Hart was linked with a move to Arsenal earlier this summer. However, City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed reports of his departure and intends to see Hart and Given battle it out for the No.1 jersey at Eastlands.
“All I have ever wanted to do is play games,” added Hart. “I wasn’t getting a chance at [Manchester] City and Birmingham [City] gave me a chance.
“I’ve just turned up at City trying to do the best I can. I just want to play. If that’s not the case I’ll have to reconsider what’s going on. At the moment I’m just really concentrating on getting that number one spot.”
Hart then went on to reveal that he cut his post-World Cup holiday short so he could get back on the training pitch.
He explained: “I love football. I was sitting by the pool on holiday and I wanted to play football with anyone who I had eye contact with. That’s just who I am. A part of me even wanted to come back a bit earlier.
“But I had to recharge the batteries and now I feel fresh. I wanted to become part of what was going on. I was playing football around the pool with anyone going. I tried to get my girlfriend involved.
“She showed a tiny bit of patience, bless her, but she wanted to sunbathe. I really didn’t know anything (about the Arsenal bid). City made it really clear I wasn’t for sale.
“All I want to do is play - whether it’s for England, or it’s by the pool, or it’s for Man City.”
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