Guardiola Joe Hart regret revealed as Manchester City boss admits mistake over goalkeeper’s exit ahead of final match in charge

Pep Guardiola has admitted that his biggest regret during his tenure at Manchester City was failing to give goalkeeper Joe Hart a proper opportunity to prove himself before being moved on.

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Pep Guardiola, who is set to take charge of his final match as Manchester City manager on Sunday against Aston Villa, is preparing to end a decade-long spell in charge during which he has won 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first UEFA Champions League crown.

However, despite his extraordinary success, the outgoing manager reflected on what he described as a personal regret in squad management decisions made early in his time at the club.

The Guardiola Joe Hart regret Manchester City moment centres on the decision to send Joe Hart on loan to Torino shortly after his arrival in 2016, before signing Claudio Bravo and later Ederson as part of a tactical shift towards goalkeepers comfortable playing out from the back.

Joe Hart, then England’s first-choice goalkeeper, had reportedly appealed to Guardiola to allow him to adapt to the new system and prove his suitability.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that the decision still weighs on him.

“I want to confess, I have regrets,” he said. “I didn’t give a chance to Joe Hart to be with me to prove himself how good a keeper he was.”

The Manchester City manager added that while he respected the goalkeepers who followed Hart, he now believes he may have acted too decisively without allowing sufficient room for adaptation.

Guardiola noted that management involves difficult human decisions, especially when dealing with players who fall outside the starting XI, and admitted that he has learned from the experience over time.

“If I failed, I do apologise,” he said, stressing that the decision was never intended to be disrespectful to Hart or the club’s players.

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The reflection comes as Pep Guardiola prepares to close one of the most successful managerial eras in English football history, defined by dominance, tactical evolution and sustained trophy success.