I’M OUT TO PROVE ANGE RIGHT
I’m not here to prove anyone wrong Hart so grateful Celtic boss believed in him
CLEAN sheet king Joe Hart is not interested in washing his dirty laundry in public by digging out the doubters who scoffed at his summer move to Celtic. The Hoops No.1’s superb form this term has shown the snipers were wrong but he only cares about proving his gaffer was right to snap him up. Looking
BY back, it’s incredible there were some fans not convinced about a guy who had kept more than 100 shutouts in the English Premier League. A keeper who had won serious silverware with one of the top clubs on the planet and racked up 75 caps for England, playing at World Cups and Euro finals along the way. Hart headed north with an impressive CV yet there was a band of doom merchants who needed to be won over. They’ve been left with enough egg on their faces to whip up an omelette big enough to feed Parkhead a few times over with impressive displays week in, week out. The 34-year-old is busier than previous Hoops keepers as Ange Postecoglou’s attacking style means he’s relied on more often than some of his predecessors. But he has been up to the task and beyond – and is now viewed as one of the signings of the season with nine clean sheets in 17 league games, including three on the bounce.
The former Manchester City and Spurs ace said: “People are wired up differently but I don’t really go out to prove people wrong. My nature is more to try to prove people right.
“All of us – myself, Josip Juranovic when he’s played, Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers – have been brought to the club because they’ve believed in us.
“Obviously Anthony Ralston has been here, Greg Taylor too and the other guys who were here before, they’ve believed in them too. But we have been brought here because they believe we can do a job.
“I’d like to think we’re doing a good job proving those people right at the moment.”
Hart is happy to be justifying his manager’s faith and admits he relishes his role at Celtic Park with the Hoops bang in the frame
What I love is that there are reasons behind what I do. I like to ask why we do something JOE HART ON HIS METHODS MAKING SENSE AT CELTIC
at the top of the Premiership and gearing up for a shot at trophy glory in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Final.
The move could not have worked out better for the Three Lions star.
Hart said: “I’m really enjoying it, I’m really loving working under the manager.
“It’s testing but in a good way. There’s an awful lot of information but the reasons why we do things are very clear and that’s the way I like to work. “That’s what I’m really enjoying. “I feel good, I’m loving being a part of the style of play we’re involved in.
“Probably to the guys who look at stats in terms of shots faced, you could say I’m not facing many but I feel very involved and very attached to the game, however that may be.
“Every now and again I have to make a save, the guys don’t ask me to step up and do that very often, so I’m just trying to do my best when it comes along.” Hart produced another brilliant save at the weekend against Motherwell and it has become a weekly occurrence.
But he’s not just around to keep the ball out of the net. The shot stopper is a big part of the Parkhead passing game and has made a mockery of the urban myth he wasn’t too handy with the ball at his feet.
Even if the odd stepover causes fans to hold their breath.
Hart said: “They’re instinct! But in terms of the style of play I’ve been very impressed by the manager and the way he puts things across.
“You can be very blasé and just tell people that you want to play out from the back but there’s a process to it.
“What I love is that there are reasons behind what I do.
“With the point I’m at in my career, and with my understanding of football, I like to ask why we are doing something. And I don’t find myself asking why much with this style. It makes a lot of sense and it is perfectly explained.”
Hart has a smile on his face but knows his gaffer is fighting to hide a frown these days with so many injury concerns.
The Celtic frontline has been decimated but Hart is confident the group can cope.
He said: “We all understand what is being asked of us and that’s how we’ve got to be, there’s no two ways about it, especially coming into this schedule.
“We’ve got a good squad and we’re going to have to use it.”
It will be the same tonight. Dingwall in December might not be the most glamorous of jaunts, especially with Hampden around the corner.
But Hart won’t fall in to the trap of taking his eye off the ball.
He said: “Sunday doesn’t even come into it.
“We go to Ross County with all our focus, all our energy and all our squad ready to do a job on the night.
“It’s going to be a tough game.”