Much criticism was laid at Manchester City's doorstep when Pep Guardiola decided against giving Joe Hart the number one shirt in theory this summer. England and Manchester City's number one for the best part of a decade, Guardiola decided against making Hart his first choice goalkeeper and made a big-money move for Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

“I am here to take decisions. I make a lot of mistakes. Some good and some bad but I try to be honest,” said Guardiola when he was questioned regarding the sale of Joe Hart. But why was Pep so keen to remove Hart and replace him with Claudio Bravo? There are a number of reasons.

Hart was undoubtedly a fan's favourite at Manchester City, the majority of whom were critical of Guardiola's decision to axe to the keeper. Whilst Guardiola courageously took the choice to make a move for Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, it was met by a number of sceptics who doubted the Spaniards decision. His fearlessness to confirm the Chile international as his number one is already paying dividend to City this season.

Under former manager Manuel Pellegrini, City struggled to adapt in unusual situations with the style of football and identity within the side clearly lacking. With Guardiola in charge City have become a reflection of Guardiola's Barcelona team that famously started their attacking threat from the back. Along with Manuel Neuer, Claudio Bravo has regenerated goalkeeping as we know it with the "sweeper-keeper" style ever present around us.

For a goalkeeper to hold an 86% pass completion rate with a minimum of ten touches per game, questions have to be raised towards Bravo's style of play - a style that is absolutely perfect for Pep's City and their style of approach to games. In comparison to Joe Hart, one of the biggest criticisms heaped upon the Englishman was his ability to distribute the ball swiftly and efficiently long before talk of Guardiola coming to City first took place. His ever-lasting desire to punt the ball further forward and allow opposition the chance to quickly gain position and catch City on the counter-attack.

Regularly Hart's attempts would end up in the stands which may benefit managers such as Tony Pulis and David Moyes, however under Guardiola the one cardinal sin would be to effortlessly provide the opposition with the ball on a regular basis. Guardiola also allows his goalkeepers to play as an extra outfield player which would see many fans watching from behind their fingers. Bravo's positioning allows his team to press higher in the oppositions half, and that sort of contribution cannot be discounted.

Claudio Bravo v Celtic

Overall as goalkeeper, can anyone really claim Joe Hart is  superior in ability to his Chilean counterpart? Bravo's composure and professionalism throughout his career has catapulted him to the top of the European game. Like a fine wine, Bravo has gone from strength to strength and many eyebrows were raised when Barcelona came calling in 2014 after a number of years at Real Sociedad. In comparison, they say hangovers get worse with age and the older Hart gets, the weaker his weaknesses seem to become. Hart's biggest flaw was undeniably his left-hand side.  For anyone doubting, rewind as an England fan to Euro 2016 and notice how many of the goals England conceded were scored at Hart's left.

It wasn't just the poor national team form, Hart's form at City has been questionable since the beginning of 2016. It's certainly not he first time he's hit a career stumbling block as his form in 2013 saw Manuel Pellegrini drop England's number one for two months.

That decision brought a lot of question marks towards Pellegrini but was he really wrong? Unlike Hart, Bravo made the number one shirt his own at European football's biggest club and quickly gained many admirers for his ability, his shot stopping, his leadership. Above all the one criticism laid at Bravo's door was his ability under crosses.

Not only this, but the opportunity of a fresh challenge presented itself to Bravo who had won all he could in Spain and opted to broaden his horizons. A Champions League winner, La Liga winner and Copa del Rey winner, Bravo had achieved all he could at Barcelona and Guardiola's phone-call was enough of persuasion to convince him to take Joe Hart's place.

Regarding Hart, the 29-year old has broken all records before him at City including success in title winning campaigns to add to previous success in domestic competitions. What else could either man achieve at their respective clubs? Signing Bravo was not just a replacement of Hart, it was a freshness within the squad that became complacent and far too comfortable when the club's ambitions remain world domination on a footballing term.

Many will continue to agree with the minority that Hart's dismissal was the wrong decision by Guardiola who should have kept his core of English talent and the nucleus to this Manchester City side. However, people should know by now that Guardiola doesn't choose players on reputations and despite Hart's successful ten seasons at City, he doesn't fear a media backlash if he feels the decision is the right one for the team's overall success. Guardiola has been ruthless at City in just a few months, just ask Yaya Toure, but his decision to replace Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo was fundamentally the right decision for a number of reasons as shown.