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Joe Hart is exactly what Tottenham need says former Manchester City team-mate Micah Richards
“Inspirational” Joe Hart is exactly what Tottenham’s dressing room needs, according to former Manchester City team-mate Micah Richards, who says Pep Guardiola got rid of the former England No1 only because he was a “big character”.
Hart joined Spurs last month following his release from Burnley and is expected to compete with Paulo Gazzaniga to be understudy to Hugo Lloris.
Hart’s star has fallen dramatically since Guardiola cast him aside at City over concerns about his footwork, and he had difficult loan spells at Torino and West Ham before spending the final 18 months of his two-contract at Turf Moor on the bench.
Richards, who played with Hart for nearly a decade, says the keeper is misunderstood and believes the 33-year-old has the character to help get Spurs “over their line” in the hunt for silverware
“He won’t be going as a No3 [goalkeeper],” Richards told Standard Sport. “He knows he’s going to be No2, that’s the reason he has gone there.
“Joe is an inspirational character. I couldn’t speak any higher [of him]. When he was England keeper he was always knocking on your door.
“He has been billed as arrogant or not concentrating on football with the whole ‘Head & Shoulders’ [sponsorship deal], but I can assure you from being with him since he was 19 at City, he is one of the most humble, hard-working people I’ve ever played with.
“He doesn’t shy away, he is a real character. People thought [he left City] because he couldn’t play out with his feet, which was ridiculous. It was because he was a big character in the dressing room and some managers don’t like that. They want to be the boss. When I was at City, there were big characters. For Spurs, that is exactly what they need. Every time they get to a big game they freeze a little bit.
“They have the quality but it is just the characters to get them over the line. Joe Hart, whether playing or in the dressing room, is a massive character.”
Amazon Prime’s documentary of Tottenham’s 2019-20 season reveals manager Jose Mourinho’s quest to turn his squad from a bunch of “nice boys” into winners.
According to Richards (left), Hart is not afraid to speak out in the dressing room and the Sky Sports pundit remembers him challenging former City coach Roberto Mancini.
“We were playing in the Champions League under Mancini,” Richards said. “In the manager’s eyes Vincent Kompany could do no wrong.
“He went to head the ball and missed, the striker has come from me and scored. Mancini came into the dressing room and had a go at me. Joe just stood up to Mancini and said, ‘You know that wasn’t Micah’s fault. Stop trying to pick the easy target and go for the person responsible for the goal’.
“He said what he believed in and that is why I’ve got even more respect for Joe Hart. He doesn’t jump on the bandwagon, he says what he sees.”
Richards also believes criticism of Hart since he left City in 2016 has been unfair. “When I see people throwing stones at him, it is disheartening because he has played so many times for England, a Premier League winner, saved City so many times in the Champions League,” Richards said.
“In terms of character he is one of the best. Is he still able to perform at the highest level of the Man City days? I can’t say but I believe he will get an opportunity at Spurs in some of the big games to play.”
Michah Richards is a pundit for Sky Sports, who have more live Premier League matches than any other broadcaster.
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