Manuel Pellegrini: 'Joe Hart understood exclusion'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed with him that he required time on the sidelines after several high-profile mistakes at the start of the season.

Hart was dropped for second-choice keeper Costel Pantilimon, who featured in nine of the following 11 matches, and Pellegrini believes that he made the right decision in excluding the England international.

Pellegrini told reporters: "I did what I thought was best for the team and Joe Hart.

"At that moment, Joe needed the rest. Maybe he would not say it, but he agreed with me. He realised it."

Hart has featured in City's last four fixtures, including a man-of-the-match display against Crystal Palace last weekend.