MLS
Gerardo Martino talks about Chicharito Hernández situation with Mexico national team
The coach of the Mexico national team opened the door for Javier Hernández to return under one condition: Keep scoring goals in MLS.
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández has not been called up to the Mexico national team since the 2019 September FIFA international break. In that exhibition match El Tri defeated the United States men’s national team 3-0 and the LA Galaxy striker was on the scoresheet.
Chicharito is having a breakout season at the start of the 2021 Major League Soccer regular campaign with six goals and one assist in four appearances. Currently he is the leading scorer in the MLS and he was voted back-to-back Player of the Week for week 1 and 2.
His numbers are not enough for Gerardo Martino
The coach of the Mexico national team announced the roster that will participate in the CONCACAF Nations League finals in June and the historical scorer of El Tri was not included, but his teammates Jonathan dos Santos and Efraín Álvarez were. So during an interview with ESPN, Martino talked about the situation of Hernández.
“Now that he is in MLS, he has obviously had a very good start, this is not an issue that anyone can ignore, so what we hope is that he can continue in this performance,” said Martino.
“Actually I have spoken with Javier, it is not that I have not spoken with him, it is more. I have traveled to Los Angeles, only that you have not found out. What any player has to do, understand that he has to do his job and then wait for the national team coach to consider it.”
There is no Chicharito ban
Several reports pointed out that the Galaxy striker had been punished by the Mexico Football Federation for his indiscipline with several teammates back in 2019, when he was caught partying in New Jersey. According to the director of national teams, Gerardo Torrado, there is no ban for Chicharito.
“I think that everyone, both Gerardo Martino and I have always been very open and we have said that the doors of the national team are open to all the players who can aspire to it,” said Torrado.