Man City boss Pellegrini says decision to drop Hart has helped goalie regain form

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has said that his decision to take goalkeeper Joe Hart out of the firing line has helped him regain his best form and will benefit club and country in the long term.

After being left out for seven consecutive Premier League games, Hart was back to his sharpest following Pellegrini's decision to recall him for the games against Fulham and Liverpool, making a stunning first-half save in City's important 2-1 Boxing Day win over Liverpool.

According to the Daily Express, Pellegrini believes that the time Hart spent on the sidelines working on his game will prove a blessing, and he insisted that it was never a signal he had lost faith with Hart and nor was he looking to recruit a new goalkeeper.

Stating that Hart is in agreement with him over the issue for which he worked very hard in the six weeks he was out of the team, Pellegrini said that Hart is the same player he was three months ago and has continued to be the best goalkeeper in England, adding that Hart did not lose his confidence or his trust with the team.

City's win over Liverpool kept them on course to become the first team since Sunderland more than a century ago to go through a season with a 100 per cent home record, the report added.