Reputations are just like respect. They’re hard-won, but lost in the time it takes to clear your throat.
Consider Joe Hart. For a goalkeeper who has won every domestic honour and played 75 times for England, Hart exists as little more than a punchline these days.
You don’t need Sherlock Holmes to identify the origin of his demise. In 2016, Hart made two major blunders at that summer’s European Championship, including the goal that gave Iceland their, let’s face it, hilarious and historic triumph in the round of 16 – four years on from Andrea Pirlo’s painful panenka.
Upon returning to Manchester City, Hart found himself cast aside by new manager Pep Guardiola, who had decided Claudio Bravo was a better option between the posts courtesy of his ability with the ball at his feet.
Failed loan spells at Torino and West Ham further dented his reputation, and Gareth Southgate unceremoniously dropped him from the 2018 World Cup squad. It’s hard to remember such a sudden decline from an elite player. His career has never truly recovered.
But, in his prime, the Shrewsbury-born stopper was an excellent asset for his club, as he proved with a ridiculous performance against Borussia Dortmund in October 2012.
In a true group of death, UEFA had managed to group the champions of England, the champions of Germany, the champions of the Netherlands (Ajax) and the champions of Spain (Real Madrid) together in the Champions League first round.
The result was a riotously entertaining match in which Hart produced one of the displays of his career.
Gotze save
Borussia Dortmund were the coming force of European football. Managed by Jurgen Klopp, their squad contained Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Ivan Perisic, Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski, deploying the now ubiquitous gegenpressing style.
City didn’t know what hit them. The midfield pivot of Yaya Toure and, erm, Jack Rodwell was overwhelmed as Dortmund swarmed around them.
Hart was called into action early on as Lewandowski slipped Gotze through. The cherubic playmaker took a touch before lashing a fierce shot goalbound, but the England goalkeeper extended his fingertips and pushed the ball onto the post.
It was mere foreplay compared to the pounding Hart’s goal would face that evening.
Gotze foiled again
The first half rocked back and forth, as tends to happen when two highly talented but flawed teams attack each other. Klopp was in his element, gurning on the touchline, while Roberto…
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