Since the arrival of Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini to Manchester City in the summer of 2013, the majority of players at the club have been given a chance to prove themselves in the starting line-up.
An example of this is the situation last season between strikers Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko. Despite the fact Negredo had just been brought to the club and Dzeko looked like he was destined to leave, Dzeko was given an opportunity to prove himself. The Bosnian ended up scoring 16 goals from 31 Premier League games while the Spaniard only scored nine from 32 appearances.
This type of management defines Pellegrini. As soon as a player is given a shirt to wear, they are given an opportunity to prove their worth. Those on the bench are also given a chance to break back into the starting XI as well.
Frenchman Samir Nasri is an example of a player who broke back into the squad after having a spell on the bench. He had a mediocre 2012-13 season, scoring only two goals from 28 Premier League games, made seven assists, played 46 key passes, and created 53 chances. After Pellegrini came in, his productivity had a complete overturn. Throughout the 2013-14 season, Nasri scored seven goals from 34 Premier League games, made seven assists, played 84 key passes and created 91 chances. The outstanding overturn in key passes and chances created by Nasri shows what kind of effect Pellegrini can have on his players.
One position that has rarely been tampered with by Pellegrini is in goal. Joe Hart has barely hit the heights he has been expected to hit since the end of 2012. While most goalkeepers start to hit their peak as they enter their 30s, Hart’s career seems to have gone on a bit unsteady and he is only 27 years old.
Two things that have been declining for Hart have been the amount of clean sheets he has earned and his distribution accuracy. During the 2012-13 campaign, Hart managed to keep 18 clean sheets and had a distribution accuracy of 66% in 38 Premier League games. Last season though, Hart only kept 13 clean sheets and had a distribution accuracy of 56% in 31 Premier League games. His performances last season led to him being dropped for the number two goalkeeper at the time, Romanian Costel Pantilimon. This was the first time Hart had been dropped in the Premier League since returning from his loan spell at Birmingham City in 2010. If Pellegrini had a better back up though last season, I don’t think Joe Hart would have lasted till the end of October before he was dropped.
Pellegrini does have a better back up this season in the form of Argentine Willy Caballero. The 32 year old certainly hasn’t joined the Citizens to sit on the bench as he was the number one at his previous club Malaga in La Liga. He’s worked with Pellegrini before and is a goalkeeper the Chilean can rely on.
Although Hart is not all to blame for the embarrassing 1-0 home loss to Stoke before the international break, he has to take some blame and realise the more errors he makes, the more likely it will lead to him being dropped by Pellegrini and replaced by Caballero.
After keeping two clean sheets on England duty, Hart must continue this form into City’s next three important games against Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. If he doesn’t, then we might see Caballero make his Premier League debut.
