Hart hopes to cast off City’s Real setback

JOE Hart hopes to brush aside his Champions League heartache and redouble efforts to ensure Manchester City are back in the competition next season.

City’s bid to reach the final ended in semi-final disappointment as they were beaten 1-0 by 10-times winners Real Madrid at a fevered Bernabeu Stadium.

Having come so far, goalkeeper Hart is hungry for more and attention must quickly switch to the battle for a top-four place in the Barclays Premier League.

Fourth-placed City are being challenged for their Champions League spot by Manchester United and West Ham and they now face a crucial game at home to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday (4pm kick-off).

“Roll on Sunday,” said Hart. “I’m looking forward to it. We go again to cement our place in the Champions League.

“It is important for the club and for me
personally. Nights like Wednesday are amazing and I want to keep them coming.”

SETBACK

Missing out on the Champions League next season would be a setback for City just as they finally look to be coming of age in the competition. A campaign in the Europa League was not the plan when they signed up Pep Guardiola as their next manager.

Hart said: “There is not a lot we can take from this night but in the Champions League this year we have grown and shown some good moments. We are going to have to take that into next year.”

City could be without captain Vincent Kompany for those final two games against Arsenal and Swansea after he suffered a groin injury early on at the Bernabeu.

MANCHESTER United go to Norwich City in tomorrow’s early kick-off (12.45pm) knowing that both sides are desperate to pick up three points.

The Canaries ­— who won 2-1 at Old Trafford in November ­— will climb out of the bottom-three, at least for a few hours, if they can pick up a victory at
Carrow Road.

Louis van Gaal’s side, meanwhile, need to win in order to close the gap on neighbours City down to a single point in the chase for fourth spot.

Barclays Premier League fixtures ­— Saturday (3pm unless stated): Norwich v Man Utd (12:45pm); Aston Villa v Newcastle; Bournemouth v West Brom; Crystal Palace v Stoke; Sunderland v Chelsea; West Ham v Swansea; Leicester v Everton (17:30pm).

Sunday: Tottenham v Southampton (13:30pm); Liverpool v Watford (4pm); Man City v Arsenal (4pm).