CLICHY: HART IS A TREMENDOUS CHARACTER

Before the UEFA Europa league game between Gael Clichy’s Istanbul Basaksehir and Joe Hart’s Burnley in October, Clichy spoke of how tremendous a character Hart is after the duo spent a few years together at the Etihad Stadium of Manchester City.

The two former City stars were reunited once again at Turf Moor as Hart’s Clarets sought to edge past Clichy’s Basaksehir in the Europa League third qualifying round.
After the first leg of the game ended in a goalless draw in Istanbul, the tie was delicately poised but if Burnley do progress, Clichy said he would be happy to see former teammate, Joe Hart succeed.

Speaking in an interview, the French left back said, “As a character he’s an amazing guy. In the five years I was with him, I never saw or heard him speak badly about anybody, even if we all know in football it’s pretty easy to talk down on somebody”.
“He’s a very positive guy. He will do everything for his teammates, so what Burnleyare getting is a top quality goalkeeper and a top man.”

Hart joined the Clarets for $4 million after a difficult final couple of years at Man City, following the capture of Spanish manager Pep Guardiola. He had loan spells in Italy for Torino and in England for West Ham.

“Clichy has no doubt the kind of immense quality the goalkeeper has brought into Burnley“, even hailing the 31 year old as the best goalkeeper he played with during his decade and a “half in English football“.

“When you see the season City had last year, I think for everybody it was difficult to see him go back to the club. This doesn’t take away his quality. To me, he has been the best goalkeeper I’ve played with in my 15 years in England and being England’s number one for so long shows his quality”, Clichy said.