Javier Hernandez can’t stop hitting the target.
The Mexican’s hat-trick against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday brought to 15 the number of goals he has scored for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
To put that into context, his former employers Manchester United have managed 42 goals in all competitions this season. Their top scorer, Wayne Rooney, has eight goals.
In his last three appearances Hernandez has managed as many goals (5) as United have scored in their last seven fixtures.
https://twitter.com/Foot_ballFunnys/status/676817344837087232
With numbers like this “Little Pea” would seem like exactly the kind of man United would like to have loitering around the Old Trafford six-yard box, but in an interview with Movistar reported by Marca, Hernandez revealed exactly how little Louis Van Gaal thought of him.
“I spoke with Van Gaal and he said that I only had a 1% chance of playing in my position, so I headed to Bayer.
“I felt confident from the very first day. I feel important, not just because of my goals, but because I feel that I’ll start every game.”
You can’t predict how things would have gone if he had stayed at United, but we’d wager a bag of Bird’s Eye’s finest frozen garden peas that his chances of starting up front for the goal shy Mancunians would have shot up.
Hernandez spent last season on loan at Real Madrid as his United career petered away after a great start. Signed by Alex Ferguson in 2010, the poacher banged in 20 goals in his first season but saw his opportunities decrease under David Moyes and Van Gaal.
Unsurprisingly the 27 year old has much love for Fergie.
“I was extremely lucky to be the first [Mexican] player to move to one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“I had a great time there. I had an incredible start, full of opportunities, although those opportunities dwindled over time and things took a turn for the worse.
“I’m so grateful to Ferguson. I think he’s the best there’s ever been, especially his squad management skills.
“Every player had his place. A squad player could still play 15 games a season. He opened the door to Europe for me and I won two league titles there.”
That “squad management skills” comment was as well aimed as anything Hernandez has done this season.
