quicker than I’ve ever seen anyone settle into the
Premier League", and believes he knows what to
expect of Jamie Vardy.
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has put up a staunch
defence of his backline - insisting Nicolas Otamendi has
settled into English football amazingly quickly - and says he
knows Jamie Vardy's finishing pattern.
City can usurp Leicester City at the top of the Premier
League if they beat the Foxes on Saturday lunchtime, having
kept themselves in the title race despite a patchy away
record and defensive struggles without injured captain
Vincent Kompany.
The Blues had failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 attempts
without Kompany up until the goalless draw with Leicester
at the end of December but have improved on that front in
the New Year, with Manuel Pellegrini's side having advanced in all four competitions.
Hart says he has not had to address any particular concerns
among the makeshift backline in front of him, and also
hailed Argentina defender Otamendi, who has been the main man to fill in for Kompany.
Talking about City's fortunes without the Belgian, Hart told
reporters: "It was definitely a talking point having started the
season so well with him and then not keeping so many clean
sheets without him but football goes up and down and
whether we've got Vinnie in or out of the team we look to
win and we look to keep a clean sheet.
"The lads have defended well this season. There's not been
many times when I really felt like anything needed
addressing – it's just been about the odd goal but goals
happen. There are some great strikers in this league."
And on the prospect of Kompany returning to the team, he
added: "It's good but I've spoken before about [Bacary]
Sagna, [Gael] Clichy, [Aleksandar] Kolarov and also [Pablo
Zabaleta] Zabba getting himself back, Martin [Demichelis]
always being there when we need and playing well.
"Otamendi has settled quicker than I've ever seen anyone
settle into the Premier League – he's been a real revelation
and a great signing for us. And obviously [Eliaquim Mangala]
Manga who was building a great relationship with Otamendi
before his injury."
Leicester will arrive at the Etihad Stadium top of the table
thanks in no small part to the 18 goals scored by former
non-league striker Vardy.
Hart says he has done his homework on his new England
teammate, but admits he could do nothing about another
wonder-strike akin to his goal against Liverpool in midweek.
"I'm really happy for how the season has gone for him. He's
a fantastic player and a great guy. He's really exploded. I
think he's just been more prolific. That's the only thing
that's changed about him. Obviously I didn't know too much
about him until Leicester were in the Premier League but we
know what hard work and energy he brings and that he
could really take up the time of the back four on his own.
"For me as a keeper it's about knowing how he'll chase
every ball and now he's added the finishing too. It's
priceless really. We study the team we're playing against
and I watch football as a fan.
"I know how he scores his goals and his patt
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