Hart missed from 12 yards but he won’t hesitate to put his name down for another one if he gets the chance.
Joe Hart insists he will have no hesitation taking a spot kick in the Scottish Cup Final – despite fluffing his lines from 12 yards in in the semi.
The Englishman will don the gloves for the last time in a stellar career when Celtic run out at Hampden on May 25 against Rangers or Hearts. And who would put it past Hart to write the ultimate fairytale ending should that tie go all the way just like Saturday’s beautiful chaos?
The keeper managed to be penalty villain and spot-kick hero to sum up the madness of the afternoon. After a thrilling 3-3 draw with Aberdeen that ebbed and swayed for 120 minutes there was plenty more action to come in the 14-penalty shoot-out. None more so than when Hart stepped up to take his first penalty in professional football – Celtic’s fifth – knowing he could fire his side into the Final.
But he hit the base of the post to launch the drama into sudden death. From there he reverted to type by saving Kiliian Phillips’s effort low to his left. And asked if he’d take one in the final, Hart said: “100 per cent. I’ll always put myself forward. I think for moments like that you need people with clarity of mind and are confident in what they’re doing, that’s me.
“It sums me up as a player, I’ll always put myself on the line. I fully back myself, the manager backs me, the team backs me. I went through my process and just pulled it too much. Fortunately I’m a goalkeeper and I was able to reprieve myself.
“I’ve taken one in a 21s tournament. I’ve not taken one in a professional game before. I’m gutted I didn’t score today but we got the win. I didn’t say sorry for missing one to the boys. They believe in me. To have the courage and the confidence to take the penalty in that moment will always be me.”
Hart ultimately had no apology to make after redeeming himself by keeping out Phillips’ effort. Fittingly his name echoed round the vast majority of Hampden after a game that had seen Celtic fight back from losing a second-minute goal to lead through Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest only to be dragged into extra time by a last-gasp Dons leveller.
Even then Matt O’Riley looked to have netted the winner midway through extra time. But again Aberdeen fought back to force penalties with a 119th-minute equaliser. Hart said said: “It was a pretty wild game. We just couldn’t put the match to bed, which is unfortunate.
“We just had to play our football. I think a lot of praise goes to Aberdeen. They’ve had a difficult season but they came here today and made it a tough tie for us. In all the right moments, we showed enough.
“I always back myself to save a penalty. I’m a maniac when it comes to penalties. I always feel I can save every penalty and I can score every penalty. I don’t and I didn’t but luckily our penalties were top quality and it gave me enough time to make the right decision.
“We should have never been at penalties. We should have put that game to bed. James scored probably one of my favourite goals of the season and I was hoping that would win us the game. But we got it done, that was the most important thing.”
Hart and his team-mates have a week now to recover from the bedlam and get their heads back on a title fight that has swung back in their favour after Rangers’ double stumble against Ross County and Dundee last week. Next up for the Hoops is a trip to face Dundee next Sunday. Five wins would cement the title. Four might be enough. And the former Manchester City and England No.1 is adamant Brendan Rodgers’ squad are coming to the boil at just the right time.
He said: “No doubt it’s on course for an exciting finale but there’s nothing done yet. They’re exciting times ahead. All season I’ve just wanted to be a part of everything and put myself forward.
“It was disappointing that we went out early in the League Cup but other than that we’ve stayed in there in the other competitions, barring the Champions League. We’re going to go right to the wire in the league and then we have a date at the end of the season in the Final.
“We’re in a good spot, we have a strong squad and we just need to keep our focus. We have a good training week coming up and we just need to look forward to Dundee.”