The net at the Riazor had not even stopped trembling from the powerful impact of the left-footed shot before Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's detractors were already poised to attack: He went on the field when everything was already settled and when a team, notably superior in talent and resources, was thrashing its opponent.
- Hernandez: Mexicans Abroad: The return of Chicharito
- Report: Mexico includes Hernandez for October friendlies
- Report: Sanchez backs Hernandez to shine at Real
The reality is that "Chicharito" did what he had to do, or what Real Madrid allowed him to do or perhaps what he knows how to do best. He went on the field, once again, with fewer minutes remaining than the number on his white jersey and used every second to make his usefulness as a player clear.
Real Madrid's fans are quickly finding out that the man who came in through the back door at a quarter 'til midnight when the transfer window in Europe was already closing, who was not Radamel Falcao, who had neither the size nor the accomplishments to measure up on a team of this importance and historical magnitude, demonstrates his abilities with punctuality and care.
Nothing that happened in those final minutes in A Coruna should be of much surprise. Hernandez's European soccer career has been full of moments where he makes full use of the little the others leave him, making these "leftovers" play to his advantage.
"Chicharito" recognizes his limitations, but he also knows that the only way to face and overcome them is to be at the right place at the right time. He takes to the field with that mindset. He plays a different game, one with limited time, space and opportunities. He tries to make full use of all of it.
Life on a team like Real Madrid must be far from simple for a player. The pressure to perform is relentless. There is pressure from the team itself, pressure from the coach, pressure from the critics, pressure from the fans. Only a prepared mind can withstand that type of pressure. "Chicharito" has just that mind; he is prepared for the pressure.
Those that say that Hernández is vying for opportunities with a player such as Karim Benzema are wrong. "Chicharito" has his own competition, a private battle: against time, against the pressure, against the critics, against those who didn't believe he could wear the jersey of Manchester United and even those who still don't believe that he can live up to the colors of Real Madrid. It is "Chicharito" versus "Chicharito." The rest watch and criticize.