Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has recently been on the ‘In The Stiffs’ podcast, where he has been discussing his move to Glasgow and how it all came about. Joe reveals during the interview the incredible discussion he had during the summer with new Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo, and how the Portuguese boss brutally told him that he would never kick a ball under his reign in the Spurs hot seat.
Nuno Espirito Santo, who incidentally only lasted 4 months at White Hart Lane before being given the sack, amazingly went even further when the former England number one questioned the reasons why he went from an important part of the squad to completely surplus to requirements. He stated that Hart was too old, too slow and had lost the strength in his body. The former Porto goalkeeper is obviously a man who doesn’t mince his words.
Speaking to the Podcast, Hart said:”‘He was like ‘I’ll speak first. Let’s be absolutely clear, no matter what happens, you’ll not kick a ball this year.” I had got on really well at the club, people had bought into what I was trying to bring and I was like “Right, okay.”
‘He said you’ll be free to work with the sporting director to get yourself out. However you want to play it, play it.
‘I said just out of interest, remove yourself from the situation, you used to be a goalkeeper, why has it come to this?Why have I gone from being whoever I was to being completely surplus to requirements in a squad, to not even being able to back up the first-choice? Speak freely.
‘He just went: “In my opinion, we all reach a point in our career where the body won’t allow you to play football. We’re at it now. I would not feel comfortable with you playing one minute for me. The ball’s too quick for you, you’re too old, you’re not moving, you’ve got no strength in your body.”
‘He literally buried me and I’m laughing because, whether I’m deluded or not, I was like, I don’t agree with any of that. I asked for your opinion, you have given it, it’s not what I wanted to hear and I am going to have to take myself out of this situation.
‘I literally went home and I am completely baffled here, I think I’m done, I can’t be a***d anymore. I can’t sit in a room anymore and have that said to me by him. I was like “I don’t need this anymore. I’m strong, I’m healthy, I love football.”
‘I went home and said I’d prefer to play 30 charity games a year for anyone who would want me to play in goal and give something back. I can’t be a***d with chasing the ace. I like playing football, but I don’t really like this anymore.
‘Everyone who had my back couldn’t really argue. They were like “I get what you are saying”.
‘I went back in the next day and said, the first bit, you are the manager, you make your decision. The rest of it was out of order. It’s done. I’m not going to be a problem. I intend to train hard every day and find some sort of solution.
‘It was just dealing with another problem for him. He’s a manager and needed to clear wood. I was part of that wood.
He made his decision and backed it. Good for him. He was the boss and I’m out’.
It was incredible to listen to the way Nuno Espirito Santo treated Hart during his last remaining weeks at Tottenham Hotspur. Some may think it shows strong management and maybe even compare it to the way Ange Postecoglou handled the deadwood at Celtic Park during his first few months in power but I can’t imagine the Australian spoke to anyone in that manner.
I, along with many others, love the fact Ange came to Celtic Park and pretty much from the get go had the mantra that if anyone doesn’t want to be there and give one hundred percent then he is more than happy for them to leave. If Neil Lennon had that attitude a year earlier maybe last season wouldn’t have been the nightmare it turned in to, but the difference between Postecoglou and Espirito Santo is that I’m pretty sure the Australian wouldn’t have been so brutal with a player who wanted to stay and try their best to be an important part of the squad.
It’s been clear since he turned up at Parkhead that if anything Joe Hart is a hugely positive influence on the dressing room. It’s surprising the Portuguese manager didn’t give him a chance to prove himself but that decision played perfectly into Celtic’s hands. I will fully admit that I was apprehensive when he signed for the club, and with him coming in with James McCarthy, I felt the club were going down a path that has very seldom paid off for Celtic. One were we sign players at the end of their shelf life in the English Premier League and hope they will regain their best form with a move to Scotland.
In terms of McCarthy my initial doubts about him fully remain but Hart has been nothing short of brilliant in the Celtic goals this season. Although maybe not quite as good a shot stopper as say Fraser Forster, he has certainly pulled off plenty of top drawer saves this season. He has been almost flawless with the ball at his feet, never panicking and getting play started from the back at pace. He also seems to be very vocal and good at organising the players in front of him, something very important in this slightly inexperienced Celtic side.
It’s almost like he’s trying to prove a point to somebody……
Conall McGinty
