BERLIN: His nickname ‘Chicharito’ means ‘little pea’, but ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez is proving to be a big deal for Bayer Leverkusen ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match at Monaco.
The 28-year-old netted a hat-trick — his second in Germany’s top flight — in helping Leverkusen come from 2-1 down to claim a 3-2 win at Mainz on Saturday.
“Thank God, he’s in form at just the right time,” said Leverkusen’s coach Roger Schmidt after the Mainz fightback.
After five years at Old Trafford, Chicharito quit the Red Devils in August 2015 for Leverkusen’s ‘Werkself’ and has banged in 21 goals in 32 league games in Germany’s top flight.
Having fractured his arm in an accident at home in August, Hernandez was not fully fit when he played the first 45 minutes of Leverkusen’s opening Champions League group match at CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago.
He helped his side to a 2-0 half-time lead, only for the Russians to fight back for a 2-2 draw.
The Mexico international is key to Leverkusen’s chances of getting a first win against Monaco at the fourth attempt.
