“I want to confess something…” Pep Guardiola Admits Celtic Hero “Regret” Ange Postecoglou warned me

Pep Guardiola has admitted one of the biggest regrets of his managerial career was not giving former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart a proper opportunity at Manchester City.

The legendary Spaniard took charge of his final match as City manager at the weekend, bringing an end to a hugely successful decade in Manchester that completely reshaped English football.

Although City missed out on the Premier League title this season to Arsenal, Guardiola leaves having transformed the club into one of the dominant forces of the modern era.

And as he reflected emotionally on his time in England, one former Celtic favourite unexpectedly emerged as his lingering regret.

Hart’s career famously began to unravel after Guardiola arrived at Manchester City and immediately moved the England goalkeeper aside.

The keeper eventually rebuilt both his reputation and career years later at Celtic under Ange Postecoglou.

At the time, Celtic badly needed leadership and experience during a massive squad rebuild, and Hart became one of the defining signings of Ange’s revolution.

His impact stretched far beyond performances on the pitch.

Hart quickly became adored by supporters for his mentality, professionalism and connection with the fanbase – something still obvious even now after retirement, with the former goalkeeper spotted celebrating among Celtic supporters at away matches this season, including at Ibrox.

Speaking emotionally in an interview with Sky Sports, Guardiola admitted he still regrets how the situation unfolded.

“I want to confess something. I have regrets,” Guardiola said.

“When you take a lot of decisions – a lot, a lot of decisions – you make mistakes.

“But there is one regret that I have hidden deep inside for many years.

“I didn’t give Joe Hart the chance to be with me, to prove how good a goalkeeper he was.

“And I should have done.

“With all respect to Claudio [Bravo], and then Ederson who came in — he was important — but in that moment I should have thought, ‘Okay Joe, let’s try to do it together. If it doesn’t work, then we change it.’

“But it happened.

“In life, sometimes you have to take decisions, and sometimes I’m not fair enough.”

For Celtic supporters, those comments will likely only reinforce the affection many already feel towards Hart.

While his time at Manchester City may have ended painfully, he rebuilt his legacy in Glasgow and became one of the most important dressing-room figures of Celtic’s modern era.

*“I want to confess something…” – Pep Guardiola admits Celtic hero “regret”*

Pep Guardiola has opened up on the one decision from his Manchester City tenure that still haunts him – and it involves Celtic hero Joe Hart.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his final game in charge of City, Guardiola said: “I want to confess something. I have regrets when you make a lot of decisions. A lot, a lot of decisions. You make mistakes. But there is one regret that I have hid deep inside for many years.”

That regret? Not giving Joe Hart a chance when he arrived at the Etihad in 2016.

“I didn’t give Joe Hart the chance to be with me and to prove himself how good a keeper he was,” Guardiola admitted. “And I should have done. All respect for Claudio, for Ederson when he came in, he was important. But in that moment, ‘okay Joe, let’s try and do it together, if it doesn’t work okay we change it’. I have to make decisions and sometimes I am not fair enough.”[Bravo]

Hart, a Celtic favourite after three seasons at Parkhead, was City’s No.1 and England’s first-choice goalkeeper when Guardiola took over. Within weeks he was loaned to Torino, then West Ham, before leaving permanently for Burnley in 2018.

The Spaniard said dealing with the human side of management was the hardest part. “If in that I failed, I do apologise but it never, never was my intention or the intention of the club,” he said.

Hart responded with class. Speaking to City TV, he said: “I didn’t expect them, first and foremost. It probably meant more to me than I expected. I like Pep. I get on with Pep. Shook his hand ten years ago when he told me ‘I wasn’t for him.’ Gave me his reasons. I gave my reasons why I thought I should be. We agreed to disagree.”

Hart credited Celtic and Ange Postecoglou for reviving his career after a difficult spell post-City. “I had an amazing career after that. I am forever grateful for what I had at Manchester City.”

For Guardiola, it’s a rare admission from a manager who rarely looks back. For Celtic fans, it’s confirmation that one of their own was good enough all along.