Mancini: Hart saved City
442 Staff - Thursday 04 October 2012, 10:51
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has lavished praise on goalkeeper Joe Hart following his side’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund.
The England international was in scintillating form during the UEFA Champions League Group D encounter with the Bundesliga giants, producing a string of fine saves to deny the German outfit.
A costly Jack Rodwell error saw Marco Reus give Dortmund the initiative at the Etihad Stadium, before Mario Balotelli netted a late controversial penalty to keep the Citizens European dreams alive.
Mancini has now admitted that Hart saved City from a humiliating home defeat, saying: "I think that Joe [Hart] saved us. He did very, very well.
"Today we deserved to concede three or four goals. We didn't play well. We didn't play well because Borussia Dortmund played better than us.
"They probably at this moment are a better team than us. If we want to play in the Champions League we have to play better than tonight.
"We have to run and fight. It's not enough to just pass. The Champions League is another situation - different from the championship. We have to run and fight. It's not enough to just have quality."