By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Van Gaal Told Me I Had Little Chance at Manchester United – Chicharito
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
Sport

Van Gaal Told Me I Had Little Chance at Manchester United – Chicharito

Farouk Mohammed
By Farouk Mohammed
Published: December 15, 2015
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

chicha

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez says he left Manchester United because Louis van Gaal told him he only had a “one percent” chance of getting into the team.

Mexico international Hernandez joined Bayer Leverkusen on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window and has scored 15 goals in his last 12 games for the Bundesliga club, while United have found goals hard to come by.

Van Gaal only granted Hernandez three substitute appearances at the start of the current campaign, preferring to use captain Wayne Rooney as his main striker and then signing Anthony Martial for a fee that could rise to £58.8 million.

- Advertisement -

“I spoke with Van Gaal and he said that I only had a one percent chance of playing in my position, so I headed to Bayer,” Hernandez told Spanish TV show “Fiebre Maldini” in quotes reported by Marca. “I felt confident from the very first day.

“I feel important, not just because of my goals, but because I feel that I’ll start every game.”

Van Gaal sent Hernandez on loan to Real Madrid last season and the 27-year-old explained: “He told me that I’d have to fight for my place, but that if the right offer came up I should take it. Real Madrid came in for me and it wasn’t a tough decision.”

Hernandez joined United in 2010 from Guadalajara and was named their player of the year in his debut campaign at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson.

- Advertisement -

He went on to score 59 goals in 157 goals for United but spent much of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons as a substitute.

“I was extremely lucky to be the first [Mexican] player to move to one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “I had a great time there. I had an incredible start, full of opportunities, although those opportunities dwindled over time and things took a turn for the worse.

“I’m so grateful to Ferguson. I think he’s the best there’s ever been, especially his squad management skills. Every player had his place. A squad player could still play 15 games a season.

“He opened the door to Europe for me and I won two league titles there.”

Hernandez scored nine goals in 33 games for Real, including a Champions League quarterfinal winner against Atletico Madrid.

He said of his Real career: “I’d split my time there into two stages. Firstly, I was on the bench. I was in the squad, but I wasn’t out on the pitch winning games.

“Thank God I got my chance and the game against Atletico Madrid was one of my best. I’ll always remember how Real Madrid fans said that I should have played more.”

Meanwhile, Nick Powell pressed his case for a place in Van Gaal’s struggling United team by scoring a brace for their under-21 side against Leicester.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:ChicharitoVan Gaal
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByFarouk Mohammed
Publisher
Follow:
Farouk Mohammed is a Head Editor at Okay Nigeria (Okay.ng). He has been publishing for 10 years and focused more on Local/World News on Okay.ng
Previous Article Arms Deal: Bafarawa, Others Plead Not Guilty to Charges
Next Article Cristiano Ronaldo Could Beat Messi for Ballon d’Or – Luis Figo

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Okay.ng Logo

Parallel Market Rates

USD
Buy₦1,540.00
Sell₦1,560.00
GBP
Buy₦2,148.00
Sell₦2,180.00
EUR
Buy₦1,740.00
Sell₦1,800.00

Updated: 15 hours ago

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

Quick Converter

0.00
ShareShareShare

Rates are for informational purposes only.

Okay.ng Logo Parallel Market Rates
USD
Buy
Sell
GBP
Buy
Sell
EUR
Buy
Sell
| okay.ng
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Widespread Concern in Ondo as Two Adekunle Ajasin University Students Vanish Without Trace
Education News
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede
Nationwide Fingerprint Fraud Scandal Uncovered in JAMB CBT Centres, Imo and Anambra Lead
Education News
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Explains Delay in Senate Return Amid Legal Nuances
News
ADC Asserts Neutrality Amidst Political Realignments, Denies Bias in Presidential Race
Politics Top stories
Nigeria Union of Teachers
FCT Teachers to Resume as NUT Suspends Over Three-Month Strike
Education
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

Boladale Odunlami, Commercial Manager, Nestlé Nigeria; Olabisi Joseph, President, Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF); and Ifeanyichukwu Orabuche, Category Manager, Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, pose with the triumphant Father O’Connell Science College team after they clinched the male championship title at the 25th MILO Basketball Championship held at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Lagos.
Sport

25 Years of Impact as Nestlé’s MILO Basketball Championship Shapes Nigeria’s Future Champions

Farouk Mohammed
Farouk Mohammed
July 8, 2025
Education

New Admission Benchmarks Set to Standardise Tertiary Entry Across Nigeria

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
July 8, 2025
Dangote Refinery
Energy & Oil

Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Price Again to ₦820 Per Litre, Expands Distribution Network

Muhammad A. Aliyu
Muhammad A. Aliyu
July 8, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?