Javier “Chicharito” Hernández Balcázar was signed from
Club Deportivo Guadalajara (widely known as “Chivas”), arguably Mexico’s most
successful team, for a reported fee of £6million. No question Manchester United’s scouting system did a great
job identifying Chicharito as a top striker when nobody knew about him.
Before enrolling the English
most successful football club, Chicharito played the World Cup 2012 and helped
his nation reaching the last 16 round (they lost 3-1 to Argentina) scoring
twice in the process. Chicharito’s rare ability to appear from nowhere and
score goals was remarkable in the tournament, but very could have predicted that he would soon become a key player for
Manchester United.
On 27th July Chicharito made his debut
against a MLS All-Star team and scored after just 18 minutes on the pitch in a
match won 5-2 by United. It was just a summer friendly, but it was evident
United had signed a special player, a true goal-poacher in the mould of the
Reds legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
A bubbly character, the Mexican striker gel admirably
well with his new environment (a new country, a new league, a new language...
something that is never easy to handle) and enjoyed a highly successful maiden
season in England, lifting both the Premier League and the Community Shield and
scoring 20 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions, some of which were
vital to conquer the 19th domestic league. His awesome performances
made him to quickly become a fans-favourite player and also earned him the Sir
Matt Busby Player of the Year Award.
Chicharito’s second
season at Old Trafford was not as brilliant as the first one. However, he
managed to score 13 times in 36 appearances, despite having suffered several injuries.
The fact of not having had a proper rest during several consecutive summers
took its toll, so Sir Alex Ferguson made sure Chicharito would enjoy a
well-deserved rest prior to the next beginning of the next season.
That decision prevented
him from taking part in the Olympics, a competition finally won by Mexico.
Chicharito could have won a gold medal, but he was on United’s pre-season tour
instead. Nevertheless, Chicharito never complained, something which speaks
volumes about his personality and professionalism. Manchester United fans must
appreciate that he is not only an excellent football player; he is also a very
unique human being.
Chicharito is now back to
his best and doing what he knows best. Despite being only Sir Alex Ferguson’s
third choice upfront, behind established world-class players Robin van Persie
and Wayne Rooney, he has found the net 12 times in 21 appearances, including a
hat-trick at Villa Park (3-2) and late winners at Stanford Bridge (3-2) and
against Newcastle United (4-3) at Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
It may not be easy to accommodate all three players in Manchester United’s XI, but there are options: playing Rooney as a “false” left-winger on a standard 4-4-2 formation or playing the, hated in some quarters, diamond with Rooney at the tip.
It may not be easy to accommodate all three players in Manchester United’s XI, but there are options: playing Rooney as a “false” left-winger on a standard 4-4-2 formation or playing the, hated in some quarters, diamond with Rooney at the tip.
Javier Hernández’s
work-ethic is as good as anyone’s and he is the most natural goal-poacher in
the squad. In fact, he has scored 13 times so far this season despite his
restricted number of minutes on the pitch and could have notched a few more
easily if he was featuring more regularly. In addition, Rooney and van Persie
feel comfortable playing along with the Mexican striker and both may even
improve their already outstanding efficiency.
Taking all these
factors into consideration, I am in a solid position to affirm that Javier
Hernández has done more than enough this season to be part of Manchester
United’s starting line-up on a more regular basis.
Writer: Juan Manuel @theredinsider
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