Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has challenged Joe Hart for his position in the team as the number 1 choice goalkeeper. Pellegrini said that Hart has no room for error if he wants to be the team's first choice.
This happened after Hart suffered a devastating performance last season which led the team to replace him with another goalkeeper, Costel Pantilimon.
Pantilimon was allowed by Manchester to leave the club last June after his contract expired. He then joined Sunderland on a free transfer.
Right after Pantilimon left, Pellegrini replaced him in the City squad with Argentine Willy Caballero who was from club Malaga.
According to the City manager, Caballero is better fit to challenge Hart in the position and that he is giving him the chance to impress him and the team in the Premier League champions when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
According to Pellegrini "I have two No. 1 goalkeepers. Willy is a very good goalkeeper, I know him from Malaga. I think he is very happy here. That is why I say we have a stronger squad than last year."
He added "I will make the decision who will start against Arsenal, not only the goalkeeper, the whole team. I am sure Willy will be very important for us but I also continue thinking we have the best goalkeeper in England in Joe Hart. Top teams need two players for each position because we have to play so many games during the year."
But no one from the City players who joined the recently concluded World Cup will be playing in the curtain raiser to the new season against Arsenal. This includes Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.
Pellegrini confessed that he will treat Aguero with extra care after the latter had suffered injuries during the World Cup.
He said "I think Sergio needs a very good pre-season. That's why for him it is very important to work two or three weeks intensely and then start playing. We hope this year he will not have injuries."
But aside from the two players, Pellegrini acknowledged that defenders Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna will not be playing against the Arsenals as well.
