Watch out Tottenham, Man Utd reject Chicharito is out to prove a point!
The Mexico international has the perfect opportunity to show Premier League supporters his worth when Bayer meet Spurs in the Champions League on Wednesday
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Such was the misery that surrounded Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United tenure, his decision to let Javier Hernandez leave the club for a mere £7.3 million was somewhat overlooked.
The Mexico international had adopted his ‘super-sub’ role under Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 20 goals in his first Premier League season before being forced to settle into a bit-part player under David Moyes and then Van Gaal before being let go for a measly fee.
His natural ability in front of goal never left Hernandez despite the lack of game time at Old Trafford, and he arrived in the Bundesliga with a point to prove. Nineteen goals in 22 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen had Van Gaal ruing his decision to let him leave the Red Devils, but Hernandez had found a tailor-made role at his new home.
Now operating alongside Kevin Volland in a settled formation with the knowledge of his importance at the club, Chicharito is continuing to flourish.
Such is the popularity of Hernandez at Bayer, the club’s official Spanish Twitter account has gained almost 87,000 followers in the space of a year.
Hernandez has carried his form into the 2016-17 Bundesliga season, too. Despite suffering a freak hand injury, Hernandez has struck five goals in eight Bundesliga games and another two in cup competitions. In fact, only Anthony Modeste of Cologne (69%), and Vedad Ibisevic of Hertha Berlin (43%), have contributed to more of their teams’ goals than Hernandez (38%).
His form comes at a time when Manchester United look toothless up front. Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils have scored just 13 Premier League goals this season despite the club spending upwards of £200 million on a new squad. The statement signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has yet to prove worthy, with the Swede scoring four in 10.
And while goals win you games, defences win you titles. That’s certainly a mantra which Mauricio Pochettino is living by at Tottenham this season, anyway, having conceded just five goals in the Premier League – the fewest in the division. And it is up to Hernandez to pierce this resilient backline when Bayer travel to Spurs in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“Obviously he is a great player, I’ve known about him for a long time,” Pochettino said ahead of the meeting. “In all the clubs where he has played he has scored goals. It’s clear that he is of vital importance to Leverkusen.”
“Tomorrow we will have to be especially vigilant of him, because he’s a dominant player in the box, that can harm us and create situations when we least expect it. We have to face a world class player, un Top, un Goleador.”
Pochettino’s words hold substance. Hernandez has delivered wherever he has been. However, Spurs can hold solace in past meetings. The White Hart Lane outfit are the Premier League team that Hernandez had the worst record against while he was at Manchester United with no goals in six games.
So often underrated because of his straightforward style of play, the meeting at Wembley presents the perfect stage for Hernandez to prove supporters of English football of his worth.
And Bayer boss Roger Schmidt recognises his importance to his team’s chances of returning to Germany with a result, saying: “It is clear what he [Hernandez] can deliver. He had a fantastic first season in terms of goals but also integrating into how we play. This year he has had a problem with a broken hand but also a good return.
“In England it is difficult to say,” he said. “The stats show that when he’s had a chance to play, he scores goals. Also consider that he has played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, two of the top teams in Europe, where there is stiff competition.
“Even then he’s shown, often coming on as sub, he has done well. Now that he has chance to play more 90 minutes, and you can see he has more enjoyment in his game, now that he has more time on the pitch.”
