Schmidt Backs Javier Hernandez to Rediscover Scoring Touch
Bayer Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt says that he would not consider dropping Javier Hernandez from the starting line-up despite the player having not found the back of the net the last 11 matches of all competitions.
\Hernandez was famed for having an impressive goals to game ratio even when not having a first-team spot. It was one of the elements that helped him secure a move to Bayer Leverkusen after being deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United. However, he has not scored since the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. It is a run that stretches beyond imagination, but it seems that managerSchmidt retains the faith in the 28-year-old.
Despite this poor form, Hernandez has been recently linked with a return to Premier League with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool. At the start of the campaign, Hernandez was in brilliant form and had managed to score seven goals in eight games.
It is largely because of this run that the record of the Mexican striker looks rather than decent. He has managed five goals in 14 appearances for the German outfit, who are struggling for consistency in the middle of the table. After having managed only two wins in the last five games,Schmidt will be hoping to inspire his players by making some top signings in January.
“I haven’t taken him [Hernandez] to one side to speak to him.Every striker goes through a difficult patch, and Javier just so happens to be going through one at the moment. I know it’s only a matter of time before he starts scoring again, though. It’s about time we beat Monaco. We were incredibly unfortunate to lose to them twice in last season’s group stage, and we were unlucky to only get a draw from our last game against them,” saidSchmidt.