Guardiola explains why axing Joe Hart was the hardest decision of his career

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola [Courtesy]

Pep Guardiola admits jettisoning Joe Hart at Manchester City was the toughest decision of his career.

The former England goalkeeper returns to the Etihad for the first time on Saturday as Burnley take on the Premier League champions.

Guardiola insists Hart's mature reaction to his controversial call in the summer of 2016 eased a tense situation.

The Spaniard told the then England No 1 it was a crucial part of his football philosophy to have a goalkeeper who was more comfortable with the ball at his feet and could build moves from the back.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve had to take as a manager because, in the short time we had together, he was so professional in the way he reacted,” he said.

He admits jettisoning Joe Hart at Manchester City was the toughest decision of his career [Courtesy]

“Normally a player thinks of himself, himself, himself. It’s not easy but Joe put himself a little bit in my position and said he understood perfectly. That’s why I appreciate a lot his behaviour and that of his agent and his people.

“I know how tough it was for the fans and for the people at the club. He was an incredible keeper and had incredible results here in the club.

“He’s part of the history here. There is no doubt how important for this club he was and is. And you will see how the people appreciate what he has done.

“This club helped to build something special with the facilities but after that there is the quality of the players in those 10 years and Joe is part of that, no doubt about it. That’s why it was not easy for me to take the decision. I always wished him the best – I said it privately and publicly.”

Guardiola’s decision backfired spectacularly in his first season in charge because Hart’s replacement Claudio Bravo committed a series of costly errors that de-stabilised City’s defence.

But since the £35m arrival of Brazilian keeper Ederson from Porto, they have not looked back and Guardiola clearly has no regrets.

“I don’t always take the right decisions,” he added. “I have made good and bad decisions. Sometimes I have taken decisions that I have regretted afterwards.

The former England goalkeeper returns to the Etihad for the first time on Saturday with Burnley [Courtesy]

“But you have take them in the right moment and at the right time. We have to take decisions every five minutes and sometimes they are really important.

“Sometimes it’s not just about football, it’s about human beings. Sometimes it’s not easy but it’s what it is.”

Such is the esteem Hart is held in at City, that he was invited to their Etihad Campus on Thursday for the unveiling of a mosaic depicting him in action and a training pitch that has been named after him, as they did for another stalwart, Yaya Toure.

Hart was honoured but will ensure there is no sentimentality when he faces the club for whom he made 348 appearances.

He said: “Manchester City has been a huge part of my life and my career and I’m immensely proud of what I and my team-mates achieved in that period.

“There have been some incredible goalkeeping legends at City and I feel privileged the club has chosen to recognise me among that number.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola revealed City are hoping to offer long-term contracts to German winger Leroy Sane as they are for Raheem Sterling.

“Yeah, the club are working on it,” he added. “No doubts – not just for his recent performances. We are not going to extend the contract for that, like we are not extending Raheem’s contract simply because he scored two goals in Spain.

“We value the quality of the player, the human being, how settled he is. To help them in the bad moments and let them understand how consistent they can be.”

Kevin De Bruyne will make his first appearance since the opening weekend of the season after recovering from a medial ligament injury.