Mexican football star Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has joined Premier League side West Ham United. The former Manchester United star preferred a return to “the best league in the world” ahead of options in Spain and Italy. The player moves to the London stadium in a £16 million move.
Chicharito has two weeks to prepare ahead of the new season compared to his previous moves to Real Madrid (on loan) and Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day. He is happy that this transfer was “more calm and easy” compared to previous transfers and he hopes to help the club achieve their aim.
“It was a little bit simple really. I’m in the best league in the world and West Ham showed me a lot of confidence and trust. West Ham is showing more ambition compared to last seasons. They want to qualify for Europe, you can see that in the transfer window. That’s why I’m here,” the ex-Red Devils striker said.
Hernandez is very hopeful that the Hammers will make the top 7 and qualify for European football at the end of the season. This seems to be one of the key factors on which he hinged his move. West ham are currently at 14/1 to make it into the Champions League in 2018/19 on NetBet.co.uk, but shorter odds for making it into the Europa League.
The striker was crucial to United’s Premier League win of 2011 and 2013 but he was ejected when Louis van Gaal came in. Chicharito is excited at the opportunity to go against his “old house” but reminds fans that he is “defending other colours now.”
Some other fans that need reminding of the need to back their players are across town at QPR, where manager Ian Holloway wants fans to support the team instead of criticizing the players, after what has been an arduous close season for Rangers, with very few signings for fans to get excited about.
Holloway told fans that the team has a plan in place in order to integrate young players into the team and it is important that fans provide the necessary support to these players over the more expensive imports – “it is not always necessary to sign new players if you have quality players coming through the youth team. He believes that these young players have the potential to bring the club forward, but they need the right atmosphere if you want them to flourish and become better.”
However, he admitted that the club also needs to sign new players if they want to improve and he has promised fans that the board is actively looking for players that will strengthen the team. He said that he understands the position of the fans who are demanding new signings and he has guaranteed them that there will be new players coming into the team before the start of the new season, and that discussions have already started and it is only a matter time before new signings are announced.
The Queens Park Rangers coach said that the objective of the team next season is to push for promotion and that they are working on building a team that will allow them to do just that. He admitted that things would not be easy with other clubs having bigger budget than them, but they are ready to fight for it.