The Red Devils needed a win against Chelsea to secure their 19th title and they duly delivered it. It took Sir Alex’s men only 36 seconds to open the score against their rivals. Park passed a through ball to Chicharito and the Mexican kept his cool, giving United a 1-0 lead. You all know the rest: Vidic extended the lead, Lampard scored Chelsea’s only goal and Sir Alex bowed to the fans present at Old Trafford.
I would like to talk to you about the boy from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Widely considered the cultural center of Mexico, home to the famous Mariachi music, Guadalajara witnessed Brazil’s games during the 1970 Fifa World Cup (except the final played against Italy) and during the 1986 Fifa World Cup (including the famous quarter-final against Platini’s France). This is the background where young Mexican starlet, Javier Hernández, grew up. Son of the former player Javier Hernández Gutiérrez, known as Chicharo, as well as grandson of Tomás Balcázar (considered a legend in Mexico for being indispensable to that Chivas team which won 8 out 10 championships), the young prospect of Guadalajara joined Chivas at the age of 9 and signed his first professional contract at 15.
Initially scouted by United in October 2009, Javier agreed a deal with the Red Devils in April 2010. Chicharito made his debut for United in the 2010 MLS All-Star Game scoring his first goal for the club in only 18 minutes. He then played for Chivas against United (as part of the transfer deal) and scored for the Mexicans after only 8 minutes in a friendly which the Red Devils lost.
His competitive debut for the Red Devils came on 8 August 2010, when he scored United’s second in their 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield.
Until Sunday, he managed to score against Valencia, WBA, Stoke (a brace), Wolves (his first ever League Cup goal), Blackpool, Southampton, Marseille, rivals Liverpool, Everton, etc. Chicarito scored 3 goals against Chelsea this season, including one in the quarter-final of the Uefa Champions League.
On Sunday, again against Chelsea, he managed to score his twentieth goal of the campaign, in just 36 seconds. This goal made him the first player since Ruud Van Nistelrooy to score 20 goals for the club in his debut season. 14 goals were scored in the Premier League.
It has been an impressive first season for the Mexican and the young wonderkid could end the season in further glory should Manchester win both the Double. Wouldn’t be fantastic for the lad to win the Double in his first season at Old Trafford?
Don’t get me wrong, Berbatov is good, he’s the leading goalscorer of the Premier League, but Chicharito is awesome. Look at the goal scored against Chelsea. He only needed 36 seconds to give United a major boost. 36 seconds! His movement was out of this world! He kept his cool and put the ball into the net. Simple as that!
As Javier raced through Chelsea’s defence and scored United’s first, I asked myself: would he score against Barcelona as well? I mean, the kid has it all: pace, technique, positioning, flair, finishing, you name it. He’s already a goalscorer! Sir Alex must use Chicharito against Barcelona right from the start.
Barcelona are tough nut to crack, we all know that. That’s why Chicharito should play. This is his chance to shine at the highest level. I honestly have faith he will if given the opportunity.
Javier Hernández, will you shine against Barcelona? The world wants to know!
P.S. Is it just me or Chicharito seems to be Rooney’s perfect partner up front? Those two like they’ve been playing for years together.
