Hart still the best, says Zabaleta

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is
"still the best" and makes his team-mates
"feel safe", according to defender Pablo
Zabaleta.
Hart, 26, was widely criticised for his display
in Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League home
defeat by Bayern Munich.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini would not confirm
Hart will start Saturday's Premier League
match against Everton.
But Zabaleta told Football Focus: "He's still the
best. Right now is not his best moment but
this happens."
Hart was at fault for two of Bayern's three
goals, failing to stop routine shots from Franck
Ribery and Arjen Robben.
Argentina defender Zabaleta said: "Sometimes
Joe Hart - like any player - can make a mistake.
Everyone makes mistakes. It is impossible to
be at the top level for 60 games a season over
many years.
"Maybe sometimes [Lionel] Messi or Cristiano
Ronaldo do it.
"But I've known Joe Hart for five years and
have seen him playing at his best form and
know that he is the best. The feeling for me
and my team-mates is that, looking at him in
the goal, I feel safe."
Zabaleta said Hart had been City's "main
main" for the first quarter of last season and
"everyone at the club" has total confidence in
him.
The 28-year-old added: "He's one of the
leaders in this group. Before games, he's very
focused and I'm sure that very soon he'll be
back to his best form."
England boss Roy Hodgson has given Hart his
backing and Pellegrini said the goalkeeper
"continues with the trust of all the team",
adding: "Joe knows he must improve. Soon I
hope he recovers what he had."
Hart was slow to react for Andreas Weimann's
winner for Aston Villa last weekend, was
beaten at a corner by Cardiff striker Fraizer
Campbell in August and allowed a shot from
James Morrison to go straight through him
during England's victory against Scotland at
Wembley.
After the defeat by Cardiff, Pellegrini told Hart
his place was not guaranteed, with 6ft 8in
Romanian Costel Pantilimon providing his main
competition.
The City boss said: "I will decide whether Joe
will start or not - I always contemplate
different things. I don't tell you now whether
Joe will start on the day of the game because
the rest of the players don't know yet.
"But Costel Pantilimon is a very good
goalkeeper also. He has all the rights to play
and I know he's working hard.
"I'm absolutely sure if it is against Everton, or
another game when Pantilimon must play, he
would do well."
To see the full interview with Pablo Zabaleta,
watch BBC One's Football Focus at midday on
Saturday.