If this is to prove Joe Hart’s swansong he was given a stylish send-off by Manchester City fans who left Pep Guardiola with zero doubt regarding their affection for the 29-year-old. On 65 minutes the support sang “Stand up if you love Joe Hart” and the Etihad Stadium rose to create a moment that was touching and one the under-pressure goalkeeper may never forget.
It was that kind of night throughout. The actual game was academic given the 5-0 lead City held over Steaua Bucharest from last week’s opening leg in Romania. Hart had finally been selected by the manager for the side’s fourth match of the season, and asked to help seal a place for City in Thursday’s Champions League group stage draw.
This they duly did, and Guardiola’s choice of captain was classy. Hart wore the armband as Yaya Touré also made a first appearance of the season. The Ivorian lined up in an XI that showed eight changes from Saturday’s 4-1 dismantling of Stoke City.
The evening began with Hart offering a thumbs-up to applauding fans following his warm-up and cheers from them when his first touch with a boot proved a sure-footed pass.
As a super-sized banner was unfurled bearing the legend “THIS IS YOUR CITY” with a picture of Guardiola over a streetscape of Manchester landmarks, the Catalan’s full-backs were again adopting a tactic first spotted on opening day here. This featured Gaël Clichy and the 19-year-old Spaniard Pablo Maffeo, a right-back on debut, moving infield to become de facto midfielders when City attacked.
Also notable was the near-constant conversation Guardiola had with John Stones in the opening part of the half. The central defender took instructions on where and when to pass and was told as vehemently to relay similar instructions to defensive colleagues. Stones was also a main channel via which much of City’s play began, stroking long and short passes around in the manner for which he was bought.
After 25 minutes there had been scant action in either goalmouth. Nolito managed one volley on the turn, though it was hit weakly at Valentin Cojocaru in the visiting goal. Later Fabian Delph, who partnered Fernando in midfield, found space and fired a low shot but again it failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Hart did not deal as smoothly with a Steaua corner. When it was delivered he rose to punch the ball away only to be left flapping as Touré beat him to it. This was the closest Laurentiu Reghecampf’s team had come to clawing back one of the five unanswered goals they required to take this tie into extra time. Three minutes before the interval Hart mis-controlled a regulation backpass, hardly helping to support the idea Guardiola is unfairly maligning him for a clumsy touch.
The Catalan’s drive for perfection meant he would demand a step up in quality for the second half. As Hart wandered to the goal before the south stand he was regaled with “City’s No1” and, wryly, “He’ll pass when he wants”. There did indeed follow some deft control and an offload with his right boot, and he watched as seconds later Stones rose in Steaua’s area. The former Everton man’s header was wide of Cojocaru’s right post, however.
Eight minutes after the interval Reghecampf made a move, taking off Adnan Aganovic and Ovidiu Popescu for Adrian Popa and Nicolae Stanciu, the latter a player who is interesting Premier League clubs. It did not help Steaua as City promptly roved towards Cojocaru’s goal and opened the scoring. This was regulation stuff as Jesús Navas stood the ball up and Delph headed expertly past the keeper. It was the midfielder’s third goal for the club and took City to a 6‑0 aggregate lead.
It also meant Guardiola could make his own substitutions and rest two key men. Off came Nolito for the 19-year-old José Tasende – also known as Angeliño – and Stones for Tosin Adarabioyo, 18 – both were making their bows in the competition.
The City manager stopped Stones as he strode past to have yet another word regarding tactics and in-game strategy, during what was now a glorified training session. There was also chat with Aleksandar Kolarov about similar matters during a stop in play moments later.
Then came the home faithful taking to their feet to applaud Hart, the keeper appearing to touch the City crest and showing understandable emotion. Hart’s concentration held still, though, as at one point he, fresh from a vote of confidence from England manager Sam Allardyce, raced out to hoof the ball to safety, and in another ensured his defence marshalled a rare Steaua attack.
A late injury to Kelechi Iheanacho – he pulled up when chasing a ball down, and Guardiola later said he does not know how serious the problem is – was the only sour note. Unless you are Hart, of course, who acknowledged the stands at length after the final whistle. Despite the sentiment, deep down he will be hurting.
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