Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández a doubt for LA Galaxy’s MLS season opener

We are just days away from Los Angeles Galaxy’s 2023 Major League Soccer season opener, which sees the league’s most decorated club take on arch rivals Los Angeles FC. The Galaxy will return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2002 to host the first El Tráfico of the season, but it’s not all good news for the home side.

‘Chicharito’ in danger of missing season opener

It was reported that the Galaxy’s captain Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández left Tuesday’s training season early with a right hamstring problem, and is in doubt for Saturday’s game against the defending MLS champions. Following the training session, head coach Greg Vanney said that he doesn’t know if the Mexican international will be ready to face LAFC.

Vanney confirmed that Chicharito’s status is doubtful and that he needs to follow up with the team’s doctors to see how serious the injury is. This will be a huge setback for the Galaxy, as Hernández has been the team’s top scorer in the past two seasons, tallying 35 goals in 53 appearances.

Chicharito is in a race against the clock to reach full fitness, and if he is not able to recover in time for El Tráfico, Vanney may well opt to start Dejan Joveljic at striker. The Serbian international scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 983 minutes of action for the Galaxy last season - including an equalizer in his side’s most recent meeting with LAFC, in the 2022 playoffs.