Cutting Joe Hart out of his first-team plans at Manchester City is the toughest decision Pep Guardiola has made at the Etihad Stadium.
Hart is widely expected to miss out on a place in England's World Cup squad when Gareth Southgate announces his 23-man party for Russia 2018 on Wednesday.
It marks a stunning fall from grace for the two-time Premier League champion, who has been the Three Lions' starting goalkeeper in each of their past three major tournaments and was also first choice during the most-recent qualification campaign
An error-strewn season on loan at Torino in Serie A followed, before a similarly underwhelming temporary stint at West Ham, where losing the gloves to Adrian on two occasions due to poor form has seemingly played a decisive part in Southgate's decision.
"It's always difficult because they are human beings and had been together years and had a good relationship, but we had to do it," he told Sky Sports.
"People ask me about the toughest decision and it's Joe Hart. Because I know how professional he is and how important he is for the club and what he has done.
"I am at the club like I am because of people like Joe. But you have to do it, because we believe it is the best and you have to take the decisions, that's our job."
