Mancini slams Joe Hart after outburst

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini criticised his goalkeeper Joe Hart after the England shot-stopper questioned his side's defending in the final minutes of their defeat to Real Madrid.

The Premier League champions led 2-1 with four minutes to play, but late goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo turned the tie around.

Questions were asked of Hart's goalkeeping for Ronaldo's winner, but the England keeper kept his side in the match with a series of stunning saves, especially in the first 45 minutes.

Following the match Hart said: "It's not on. You can't go 2-1 up with five minutes to go and lose the game. Who else can we blame? We can only blame ourselves."

But his manager hit back, telling his keeper that only the manager should criticise the team. Mancini said: "Joe Hart should stay in goal and make saves. If anyone should criticse the team it should be me, not Joe Hart. I am the judge, not Joe Hart."

City had been under intense pressure for much of the first half, with Hart called into action on more than one occasion to prevent Ronaldo from opening the scoring. The Portuguese forward was giving new City signing Maicon a torrid time on the Madrid left flank.

But when City went 2-1 ahead through a Alexander Kolarov free-kick with just five minutes to play, Mancini's men were on the cusp of a famous victory in the Bernabeu.

Still, a wounded Madrid struck back in spectacular fashion and City were left heartbroken in the Champions League yet agai.  French striker Benzema side-footed into the net from 18 yards a minute after Kolarov's strike, setting the stage for Ronaldo to steal the show with a stoppage time winner.