At this time a year ago, Javier Hernandez was fighting for minutes at Guadalajara. Now he is preparing for a season at the Theatre of Dreams.
He hadn’t been capped. He wasn’t even an undisputed starter for Chivas. He could score goals, though, and he started to do so with alarming regularity. People started noticing.
When it was all said and done, he played in about 3 dozen or so games, Chicharito finished with close to 30 goals in all competitions, friendlies and World Cups.
One of those who saw what he liked in Chicharito let his boss know. The boss didn’t hesitate, much less wait to see how the 22 year old would do in South Africa.
Manchester United bought the Hernandez futures betting his price tag would go up after July. Sir Alex’s hunch proved correct. Hernandez was a bright spot in Mexico’s otherwise lackluster World Cup campaign.
The Mexican striker finally joined his new squad in Houston earlier this week after a lengthy post-World Cup layoff. At a press conference before the game vs. the MLS All Stars, Sir Alex said he would give him about 30 minutes, and he stayed true to his word.
Hernandez had two shots on goal, scored one and provoked another after he was fouled on a breakaway.
Chicharito could not have asked for a better debut.
Now before we go proclaiming him the next Hugo Sanchez, let’s stay a little grounded. Which is exactly where Hernandez is. “The only thing that I hoped was that they’d consider me and that I’d do the best I could,” Chicharito said. “I had only practiced twice with the team and I’m just starting with them.”
Not a surprising reaction at all from the Little Pea. He is as centered as it gets. Even as he was rocketing into super stardom, he still lived at home with his parents. Even though he is a Mexican futbol blueblood, he is still humble enough to know that he won’t be given any handouts. His accomplishments are a result of what he has done, not who he is. He knows how hard it’s going to be at ManU, and it motivates him.
I’m not going to bet against him.
¡Suerte, Chicharito!
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