Joe Hart will boost Tottenham as Micah Richards recalls goalkeeper standing up to Roberto Mancini in Man City dressing room
Micah Richards insists Joe Hart is a perfect fit for Tottenham.
Last month, the former England goalkeeper signed a two-year deal with Spurs, joining on a free transfer after leaving Burnley.
Hart, 33, is looking to get his career back on track at Tottenham
Richards, who played with Hart when Man City won a first ever Premier League title in the 2011/12 season, praised his former teammate’s leadership.
And the 32-year-old recalled a moment when Hart stood up to ex-City boss Roberto Mancini in the dressing room as a perfect example of his mentality.
He told The Times: “We were playing in the Champions League under Mancini and Vincent Kompany was like his love child – in the manager’s eyes he 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 full well that wasn’t Micah’s fault. Stop trying to pick the easy target and go for the actual person responsible for the goal’.
Hart and Richards are still good friends from their Man City days
Mancini guided Man City to Premier League glory in 2012
“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.”
Hart has endured disappointing spells with Torino, West Ham and Burnley since being exiled by Pep Guardiola at Man City in 2016.
He arrives at Tottenham with Hugo Lloris as the established No.1 and Paulo Gazzaniga pushing him for a starting place.
But Richards expects Hart to bypass Gazzaniga and start the 2020/21 campaign as the club’s second-choice goalkeeper.
He added: “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 to have.
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“He won’t be going as No.3. He knows he’s going to be No.2, that is the reason he has gone there.
“He has picked up a few injuries in the last few years. He will probably play in the cup games and see how that goes. There will be games for him this season.
“Joe Hart is an inspirational character. From sharing dressing rooms with him, I couldn’t speak any higher.
“He has been called arrogant for not concentrating on football with the whole Head & Shoulders [adverts], but I can assure you from being with him since he was 19 at Manchester City, he is one of the most humble, hard-working people I’ve ever played with.”
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