Joe Hart didn’t have the best of times at Euro 2016.
In England’s second game of the tournament against Wales, he was criticised for failing to turn a first half Gareth Bale free-kick around his post. Fortunately for him, his blushes were spared that day by goals from Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.
But things got worse for Hart. Much worse.
In England’s last 16 meeting with Iceland, Hart was again blamed for his weak-wristed attempts to keep out Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s effort – the goal that ended the Three Lions’ campaign in France.
As you’d probably expect, the Manchester City goalkeeper has been widely-mocked for his errors in the time since that night in Nice.
But he probably wasn’t anticipating to have the piss taken out of him by a Bundesliga club…
With Borussia Monchengladbach’s players being put through their paces in preseason, the club’s English Twitter account revealed that the club’s fitness coach, Markus Muller, temporarily went in goal during a practice match, covering for a temporary lack of goalkeepers.
With #Heimeroth gone, we were a bit short of keepers, so fitness coach Markus Müller stepped up to lend a hand! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/s82rnIi0YC
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) July 18, 2016
They followed this by showing footage of one of his saves, making a cheeky dig at Hart in the process.
https://twitter.com/borussia_en/status/755062276349190144
Manchester City responded swiftly, reminding the German club of Hart’s penalty save in the Champions League meeting between the two clubs last season…
.@borussia_en Nice save! What do you think of this one? It didn't go in either… 🙊😂 pic.twitter.com/P6uu2RmFCm
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 18, 2016
Was this the end of matters? Not quite.
.@ManCity Fair enough, lads. We don't mind admitting he was head & shoulders above on that day 👏 pic.twitter.com/Pbpz3uWl3R
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) July 18, 2016
We’ve no idea what prompted this unexpected episode of Joe Hart piss-taking, but the German club probably got the better of this exchange.