Manuel Pellegrini has played Willy Caballero for two gamesJoe Hart: I want to play every game – that’s my natureManager says new contract for Hart not a pressing priority

Joe Hart has signalled his discontent at not playing every match at Manchester City, saying it is “hard to see any positives” after Manuel Pellegrini left him out of the two most recent matches. The Chilean manager also said, on the eve of the club’s Champions League game against Roma, that a new deal for the goalkeeper is not a pressing priority.

While Pellegrini has said Hart will be reinstated for Tuesday evening’s game, the manager preferred Willy Caballero for City’s 7-0 hiding of Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup and Saturday’s 4-2 win at Hull City. Hart, asked about being stood down when sitting alongside his manager on Monday, said: “Of course I want to play every game. That’s my nature, my professionalism. I always want to play but I’m not the manager, I’m just a player. I live by the decisions of our manager. I think he knows that I’d love to play but he has to make decisions.”

The 27-year-old had enjoyed a run of 123 consecutive league appearances over four years before Pellegrini dropped him last autumn for two months. With Caballero, Pellegrini’s No1 when in charge at Málaga, providing serious competition, Hart does not find any positives in being left out.

“It’s hard for me to see it that way,” he said. “I’m sure that when I retire from football in many years to come I’ll see them but right now I’m not going to see positives.”

Pellegrini countered by saying that leaving out Hart had not been a difficult decision. The Chilean said: “It was a very easy decision because we have to play around 60 games in the whole year and Joe has played eight games in 32 days, which is a lot of games for a goalkeeper or any player. For Willy it was good to play two games in a row. There is no problem. Joe is a very good professional and every player wants to play. Any player who doesn’t want to play is no good for Manchester City but he understands without a problem.”

Hart did concede that having a rival vying for the jersey can bring out the best in him. “We have always had good goalkeepers – David James, [Andreas] Isaksson, Kasper [Schmeichel], [Costel] Pantilimon. It has always been a fight for me to keep my place and that will continue but I have always had high standards that I will keep to, whether there is one goalkeeper or 20. I love the challenge,” he said.

Despite Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko, David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Agüero recently signing fresh terms, Hart, who is inside the final two years of his deal, is yet to do so. Pellegrini said: “Me and Joe know what’s happening with that issue. I think it’s important we know how to manage it but it’s not the most important thing at this moment. We are thinking about Roma and how to continue winning and getting points in the Premier League.” Pressed on this, Hart said: “The same.”

After losing 1-0 at Bayern Munich 1-0 in the opening Group E tie, City will want to beat Roma if they are to achieve their stated aim of finishing top. “It is obviously a big game after a disappointing start in Munich,” Hart said. “We are aware it is the league and not knockout phase but especially at home we are going in trying to win the game.”

Pellegrini is insistent that, despite the win at Hull being the first league victory this month, the side is performing how it should. “I think we are playing well,” he said. “Maybe in the beginning of the season we didn’t score so many goals here at home, especially against Chelsea and Stoke. We scored only one goal in those two games but after that the team returned to their normal performance. In this moment I trust a lot in the team because I think we are in a good moment.”

With Agüero having scored four in seven appearances, Pellegrini also believes the Argentineian can challenge Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of the world’s finest footballer.

“Agüero is among the best players in the world,” he told Champions magazine. “Now it is up to him to make it and fight for the Ballon d’Or as best player because he has all the qualities you can ask of a football player. He is technically very strong, he is fast and has a lot of power. He is very intelligent, able to play in his position in between midfield and attack.

“We hope we will see Sergio back in the form he demonstrated in the Premier League [last season] before his injuries hit him. I believe he will make a difference this season.”