Pep full of praise for top pro Joe

Claudio Bravo committed series of costly errors.

But since the £35m arrival of Brazilian keeper Ederson from Benfica, they have not looked back and Guardiola clearly has no regrets. “I don’t always take the right decisions,” he said.

“Sometimes I have taken decisions that I have regretted afterwards. Sometimes it’s not easy but it is what it is.”

Hart was invited to City’s Etihad Campus on Thursday for the unveiling of a mosaic depicting him in action and a training pitch that has been named after him – just as the club did for another stalwart, a Yaya Toure. But he will ensure there is no sentimentality when he faces the club for whom he made 348 appearances.

“Having the goalkeeping pitch dedicated to me is a huge honour,” 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 teammates 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 working on a new long-term contract for German winger Leroy Sane, as they are for Raheem Sterling.

“The club are working on it,” he said. “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.”

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