In midweek, during the thirty-third round of the Premier League, Man City hosted the Baggies, West Bromwich.
Right from kickoff, West Bromwich took the initiative, launching an intense pressing assault against Man City.
It was a fact known throughout Europe: Man City had been fighting on multiple fronts for a long time and was utterly exhausted.
The upside was that the team had achieved good results in all four competitions, and the players were full of morale. The downside was that their bodies were genuinely worn out, and some players' form fluctuated wildly. Even with rotation, it was still difficult to change the situation.
The Baggies' manager, Hodgson, knew this was why he dared to take the initiative and put pressure on Man City.
And he really did seize the initiative at the Etihad Stadium, creating a highly dangerous attack and causing chaos inside Man City's penalty area. However, the final shot was desperately blocked by Joe Hart, who had come on as a substitute.
Joe Hart's ability was beyond question. Even after losing his starting place at Man City, he remained the England national team's undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. That alone spoke volumes about his ability. Unfortunately, at Man City, Courtois had been far too steady.
Because of that, everyone in the team knew that Joe Hart would most likely leave this summer.
If he wanted to secure his place as the national team's first-choice goalkeeper, he could not continue sitting on the bench at Man City.
So, Man City's technical staff were currently working around the clock to find an experienced backup goalkeeper and prepare for the new season.
Even though he intended to leave, Joe Hart still gave his best in training and matches.
This was not merely because he had come through Man City's youth system. More