Wednesday 16 March 2011

Chicharito can do more than Solskjaer

Following Javier Hernandez's brace against Marseille, he has been compared in many quarters to Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The similarities are obvious. Both small men who have a natural ability to score goals, but Solskjaer gained a reputation as a 'supersub', someone United could call on when in trouble.

In some ways, the same is true of Chicharito.

The way he plays, he will always be trouble for tiring defenders and so is an obvious choice as an impact sub. He is also quicker than Solskjaer was which worries any defender.

But his best performances come when he starts.

He caused no end of problems for Marseille with his excellent off-the-ball running, and showed he has the ability to lead the United line for years to come.

His movement is excellent; defenders have no clue where he is going next and this opens up space for United going forward.

Solskjaer had a great career at Old Trafford, but his reputation as being a supersub stopped him from developing into a true Premier League legend, regularly topping the goalscoring charts.

Sir Alex Ferguson must ensure Hernandez doesn't fall into the same trap.

He has muscled his way ahead of Dimitar Berbatov in the pecking order for the big games despite the Bulgarian topping the scoring charts. This is largely due to his work-rate and, above all, his talent.

He has started to develop a real relationship with Wayne Rooney, who seems to be reveling playing alongside the Mexican.

Hernandez is a penalty box predator, which gives Rooney the chance to drop deep and dictate play.

While this may not influence Rooney's goalscoring stats positively, it is a role he clearly enjoys as he is at the heart of everything United do.

If Rooney is unhappy with this role, then he may have to leave in the summer as Hernandez is United's future.

In the modern game, a team cannot have two penalty box assassins and therefore Rooney must content himself with his deeper role while the Little Pea is in the team.

The partnership is the main reason United find themselves in the last eight of the Champions League, as without the goals they created they were staring at defeat, with Marseille impressing throughout without having a cutting edge up front.

Hernandez also showed great physicality during the game, showing defenders he can't simply be knocked off the ball and he is not intimidated by rough-hand tactics.

Gabriel Heinze tried every trick in the book to put Hernandez off his game, but the little man kept bouncing back up and terrorising the defence.

United are still a tad mechanical but they have the steel needed to go far, certainly to the final of the Champions League.

They should have a chance against anyone, but as with the other sides left in the competition, will be praying for a last eight tie with Shakhtar Donetsk or Schalke.

That would give them a great chance to reach the last four and after that, who knows?

I think they will make the semi-finals and then possibly get knocked out, but the competition is so tight that if the main five teams barring Barcelona - United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Inter and Real Madrid - avoid Barca, they will see themselves as having a great chance to go all the way.

If Hernandez keeps on scoring, United have as good a chance as anyone.

Solskjaer will always be remembered there for his excellent supersub displays and his winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final, but United may well have someone even better in their ranks now.

Play his cards right and Hernandez could become a club legend like Ole.

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