Celtic target Hart opts for fresh start at Tottenham

Little is confident women’s game can bring Euro thrills

ARSENAL captain Kim Little hopes the Women’s Champions League will be as exciting as the ongoing men’s tournament and wants to take advantage of the unique event.

The competition is set to resume on Friday, with Atletico taking on Barcelona and Scotland’s Glasgow City facing German outfit Wolfsburg in northern Spain.

Similarly to the men’s tournament, all the quarter-final ties will be single-leg affairs, something Little believes provides additional pressure on the teams and players.

“(It’s) very different to what we’re used to with the Champions League and playing two legs home and away,” Little

FORMER England goalkeeper Joe Hart insists he is ready to start again after joining Tottenham on a two-year contract.

The 33-year-old was a free agent after leaving Burnley at the end of the 2019/20 season.

Hart will provide competition alongside Paulo Gazzaniga for regular No.1 Hugo Lloris.

“There’s no getting away from it, it’s been a difficult couple of years for me personally but I feel I’ve got so much to give,” he told the club’s official site.

“I’m here to work as a team player, whether my name is on the team sheet or not it’s a squad effort. I know what it takes to win titles and change a squad’s dynamic for the better.

“I’ve got huge admiration for Hugo, one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers. I feel told the PA news agency ahead of Arsenal’s game against Paris St Germain on Saturday.

“But I think it adds to the pressure and excitement of it. You know, as a footballer, that’s what you want.

“You want those moments, so I think it’s very different but we should take advantage of this like I’m starting again, I quite enjoy that feeling. My body is certainly ready.

“I love the idea of European football. You can’t help but get excited by this club.

“(They have) one of the world’s best coaches (Jose Mourinho) and I’ve always had a good relationship when playing against him, we’ve always found a way to come together and discuss the game.”

During 12 years at Manchester City, Hart won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup.

Hart fell out of favour at the Etihad Stadium after Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 and had loan spells at Torino and West Ham.

He joined Burnley in 2018 and made 24 appearances for the club but was behind first choice keeper Nick Pope last term. unique situation and hopefully we can all put on some great games for everyone.”

The men’s competition has seen a number of thrilling matches with the new format in place, including Lyon’s 3-1 defeat of Manchester City and Barcelona’s 8-2 capitulation at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Little added: “I think with those one-off games it allows for anything to happen and potentially for underdogs to have more of a chance, so I hope the women’s tournament will provide as much excitement as the men’s has.”

Little was speaking as a member of Team VISA as part of efforts to futureproof women’s football and grow the game.