Mancini’s blow to the Hart

Roberto Mancini has warned Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart over his concentration levels.
Hart was at fault for Leicester’s second goal in the 2-2 FA Cup third round draw and conceded another three against Wolves – although he was not directly at fault for any of those.

But Mancini said, “Joe is a young player and has saved the team many times but sometimes he can make mistakes. For a young goalkeeper it is important to have full concentration but sometimes Joe loses his concentration. He is improving but I think he has a chance to improve some more because he is young and this is his second year in the first team. He can become one of the best goalkeepers in England but he has to want to work and want to improve.”

“Conceding three against Wolves will be a good lesson for the Leicester game because the FA Cup is a very difficult competition – and without Joe’s mistake the replay would not be happening.”

Shay Given is waiting in the wings, but he may not play against Leicester as that would cup tie him. The Irish goalkeeper has said he would be interested in a move to gain first-team football but it is believed Mancini is reluctant to let him go with City going so well in the Premier League and Europa League.

“It is not a simple position,” Mancini said, “You can change the other players every game but the goalkeeper is different. That is the only reason why Shay has not played so often because he is a fantastic goalkeeper.”

At the end of last season, Mancini signed Marton Fulop as an emergency keeper when Given was injured after an attempt to get Hart out of his loan spell at Birmingham failed. So, with the stakes even higher this time for City, Mancini is not willing to risk leaving himself so badly exposed again ahead of the title run-in.

A few of City’s big-name bench-warmers including Patrick Vieira looks set to play tonight.

“Patrick Vieira is an important member of our squad,” Mancini said of the 34 year old Frenchman, “He will probably play, along with Jerome Boateng, James Milner, David Silva, Jo and Joleon Lescott.”