Our definitive countdown of the best players of 2010-11 continues with Chicharito, who arrived from Mexico as a back-up but instantaneously developed into a star
Aug 14, 2011
By Chris Davie
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Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
“We’ve stolen him!” was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assessment of Javier Hernandez’s transfer less than a year into the forward’s inaugural season at Manchester United, and it spoke volumes of the Mexican’s swift acclimatisation to the Premier League.
Rather unexpectedly in April last year, United had announced the capture of a 22-year-old striker from Chivas de Guadalajara, for a fee thought to be around £8 million. Quite a gamble for a player who had no experience of the physical nature of English football.
But Hernandez began to show glimmers of potential following his transfer, even before he had the chance to kick a ball in a United jersey.
Although Mexico’s World Cup campaign was largely underwhelming as it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Argentina, Hernandez shined, and a goal in games against France and Diego Maradona’s side, showed he was capable of facing, and getting the better of, some of the world’s most experienced center-backs such as William Gallas and Martin Demichelis.Off the back of his exploits in South Africa, Hernandez started his first term at Old Trafford with promise, as a goal against Chelsea in the Community Shield, albeit from a rebound off his chin after a miss-hit shot, was the reward for capitalizing on lackadaisical defending – a blueprint which the Mexican would replicate throughout the season.
Billed as ‘one for the future’ by many at the start of the 2010-11 campaign, Hernandez was thrust into first-team duties due to Wayne Rooney’s inconsistent form and Ferguson’s unwillingness to rely on Michael Owen as a regular strike partner for Dimitar Berbatov.
A tentative start for Hernandez appeared typical for an overseas player in his maiden stint in English football but the Mexican netted for the first time in his fifth competitive game, the winner at Valencia in the Champions League group stage, which set the ball rolling for a further four goals in five matches by the end of October.
That early run took the majority by surprise, not least his manager, who admitted he expected to grant his forward leverage as he adjusted to a new style of football. Rooney, who had scored just once at that stage of the campaign, triumphed Hernandez as the signing of the season.
Hernandez’s form made him hard to remain as an impact player looking to gain experience in England’s top flight for much longer and despite scoring one goal in November and December, the Mexican’s work rate and ability to offer an alternative to Ferguson from the bench always kept him in contention of displacing both Rooney and Berbatov.
Hernandez began the New Year in a similar fashion to his start at Old Trafford, with four goals in six games, two of which were the winning strikes against West Brom and Southampton, he made it difficult for Ferguson to ignore his calling for a regular spot as a first-choice forward.
But the importance of Hernandez’s contribution began to gather significance towards the latter stages of the season and the Scot’s faith paid dividends. A brace in the return leg of United’s round-of-16 clash against Marseille put Ferguson’s side into the quarterfinals where it faced Chelsea, who also succumbed to the Mexican’s fleeting movement as he ghosted in at the back post to give his side the lead at Old Trafford, helping them into the semis against Schalke.
Hernandez had begun to forge an effective partnership with Rooney in attack, as the latter dropped deeper into pockets of space between defense and midfield, Hernandez had the opportunity to stretch the back-line, and with pace in abundance, combined with incisive runs, Berbatov’s questionable work rate meant that despite his impressive goal tally, he was no longer considered a given starter.
Herandez seized this opportunity and his winner in the 84th minute against Everton, another result of capitalizing on lapse concentration, and his goal after just 36 seconds against Manchester United, helped propel United to its record 19th league title.
Ferguson, swayed by the importance of Hernandez’s contribution at such a crucial point in the season, elected to continue with his selection alongside Rooney who had hit blistering form, for the Champions League final. But the Mexican ultimately endured an isolated outing at Wembley, as Barcelona went onto lift the trophy following a commanding performance.
But Hernandez’s 19-goal haul for United wasn’t the end to an impressive campaign, as the forward influenced once more for Mexico, this time at the Gold Cup.His seven goals, which secured the competition’s golden boot, propelled Mexico to the trophy and saw him creep into his country’s top-15 all-time goalscorer list. More importantly for Mexico though, is the presence of a potent finisher, which has been lacking from the side since Jared Borgetti's prime in 2002.
Without Hernandez, Mexico look ordinary and comparisons between the 23-year-old and former Real Madrid great Hugo Sanchez are already been drawn up, although the United forward’s age suggests he has enough time to far surpass the former Bernabeu star.
For United, Ferguson's shrewd capture of Hernandez can be mentioned in the same ilk as Eric Cantona and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and with so much promise generated from his first season, the Mexican is set to flourish at Old Trafford once more.
“We’ve stolen him!” was Sir Alex Ferguson’s assessment of Javier Hernandez’s transfer less than a year into the forward’s inaugural season at Manchester United, and it spoke volumes of the Mexican’s swift acclimatisation to the Premier League.
Rather unexpectedly in April last year, United had announced the capture of a 22-year-old striker from Chivas de Guadalajara, for a fee thought to be around £8 million. Quite a gamble for a player who had no experience of the physical nature of English football.
But Hernandez began to show glimmers of potential following his transfer, even before he had the chance to kick a ball in a United jersey.
 | "I really didn't expect Hernandez to have this impact. It is natural. He has the instinct to move around and his timing is terrific. There have only been a few top strikers who have had that quality." - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson |
Although Mexico’s World Cup campaign was largely underwhelming as it was eliminated in the round of 16 by Argentina, Hernandez shined, and a goal in games against France and Diego Maradona’s side, showed he was capable of facing, and getting the better of, some of the world’s most experienced center-backs such as William Gallas and Martin Demichelis.Off the back of his exploits in South Africa, Hernandez started his first term at Old Trafford with promise, as a goal against Chelsea in the Community Shield, albeit from a rebound off his chin after a miss-hit shot, was the reward for capitalizing on lackadaisical defending – a blueprint which the Mexican would replicate throughout the season.
Billed as ‘one for the future’ by many at the start of the 2010-11 campaign, Hernandez was thrust into first-team duties due to Wayne Rooney’s inconsistent form and Ferguson’s unwillingness to rely on Michael Owen as a regular strike partner for Dimitar Berbatov.
A tentative start for Hernandez appeared typical for an overseas player in his maiden stint in English football but the Mexican netted for the first time in his fifth competitive game, the winner at Valencia in the Champions League group stage, which set the ball rolling for a further four goals in five matches by the end of October.
That early run took the majority by surprise, not least his manager, who admitted he expected to grant his forward leverage as he adjusted to a new style of football. Rooney, who had scored just once at that stage of the campaign, triumphed Hernandez as the signing of the season.
Hernandez’s form made him hard to remain as an impact player looking to gain experience in England’s top flight for much longer and despite scoring one goal in November and December, the Mexican’s work rate and ability to offer an alternative to Ferguson from the bench always kept him in contention of displacing both Rooney and Berbatov.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON | |
 | |
| PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 CHELSEA | |
| In a game billed as the title decider, it took just 36 seconds for Hernandez to skip past David Luiz and cooly slot past Petr Cech to give Sir Alex Ferguson's side the lead and take them one step closer to their record 19th league title victory. | |
But the importance of Hernandez’s contribution began to gather significance towards the latter stages of the season and the Scot’s faith paid dividends. A brace in the return leg of United’s round-of-16 clash against Marseille put Ferguson’s side into the quarterfinals where it faced Chelsea, who also succumbed to the Mexican’s fleeting movement as he ghosted in at the back post to give his side the lead at Old Trafford, helping them into the semis against Schalke.
Hernandez had begun to forge an effective partnership with Rooney in attack, as the latter dropped deeper into pockets of space between defense and midfield, Hernandez had the opportunity to stretch the back-line, and with pace in abundance, combined with incisive runs, Berbatov’s questionable work rate meant that despite his impressive goal tally, he was no longer considered a given starter.
Herandez seized this opportunity and his winner in the 84th minute against Everton, another result of capitalizing on lapse concentration, and his goal after just 36 seconds against Manchester United, helped propel United to its record 19th league title.
Ferguson, swayed by the importance of Hernandez’s contribution at such a crucial point in the season, elected to continue with his selection alongside Rooney who had hit blistering form, for the Champions League final. But the Mexican ultimately endured an isolated outing at Wembley, as Barcelona went onto lift the trophy following a commanding performance.
"Hernandez's Community Shield goal last season, albeit fortuitous, was the result of capitalising on lackadaisical defending - a blueprint the Mexican would replicate throughout the campaign." |
But Hernandez’s 19-goal haul for United wasn’t the end to an impressive campaign, as the forward influenced once more for Mexico, this time at the Gold Cup.His seven goals, which secured the competition’s golden boot, propelled Mexico to the trophy and saw him creep into his country’s top-15 all-time goalscorer list. More importantly for Mexico though, is the presence of a potent finisher, which has been lacking from the side since Jared Borgetti's prime in 2002.
Without Hernandez, Mexico look ordinary and comparisons between the 23-year-old and former Real Madrid great Hugo Sanchez are already been drawn up, although the United forward’s age suggests he has enough time to far surpass the former Bernabeu star.
For United, Ferguson's shrewd capture of Hernandez can be mentioned in the same ilk as Eric Cantona and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and with so much promise generated from his first season, the Mexican is set to flourish at Old Trafford once more.
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