• Champions League

Hart: The score could have been 10-10

ESPN staff
October 3, 2012
Joe Hart was Manchester City's star man © PA Photos
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Joe Hart defended Roberto Mancini's tactics after the Manchester City boss saw his decision to switch from a back four to a back three result in a Dortmund goal on Wednesday.

City fell behind six minutes after Mancini replaced Samir Nasri with Aleksandar Kolarov, switching from a flat back four to a central three - supplemented by wingbacks. They eventually scrapped their way back for a 1-1 draw.

In fairness to the Italian, the goal came as a direct result of Jack Rodwell's poor pass, which allowed Marco Reus to storm through and clip past Hart.

"They were getting chances when it was three at the back, four at the back, ten at the back," Hart told Sky Sports.

"We've got to be happy with a point. It could have been 10-10, their keeper was fantastic and both sides had a lot of chances."

Hart made a catalogue of top drawer saves to keep City in the game, and he was rewarded by Mario Balotelli's 90th minute equaliser from the penalty spot. Asked if he had ever made so many saves in a City shirt, Hart struggled to recall such an occasion.

"Not off the top of my head. Dortmund were different class tonight," he said. "I hope it wasn't a wasted effort, I think this shows what a tough group we're in.

"But Mario's never going to miss the penalty. We pushed hard, we needed a point, we've come out alive and the group is still alive for us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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