Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera has praised Real Madrid striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's mental strength in the face of what has been a difficult year for the 26-year-old.
Chicharito has found playing time hard to come by after making a year-long loan move from Manchester United to the Spanish giants last summer, but his national team coach says he'll be rewarded for his perseverance and professionalism this summer.
"He's trained hard all year and didn't have opportunities, but when [Real Madrid] needed him, he was there showing his mental strength, attitude and professionalism," said Herrera in a Wednesday press conference in Houston to promote El Tri's July 1 friendly against Honduras at NRG Stadium. "I'm sure that if, after this, Real Madrid doesn't keep him, he'll have important offers from other teams."
Hernandez had started and impressed in Real Madrid's previous four matches in the build-up to Tuesday's 2-1 loss in the Champions League against Juventus in Italy, in which the forward was used off the bench. The player's club future remains up in the air, with Real Madrid retaining a buy-out clause on his loan deal from United, which expires at the end of the season.
Herrera has previously stated that he thinks Hernandez should take a step down from Madrid to get more regular minutes, but has been consistent in praising the striker and has said he'll more than likely be representing Mexico at CONCACAF's Gold Cup this summer, and not the Copa America in Chile.
In a separate interview with ESPNFC on Thursday in Guadalajara, former Mexico coach and current Chivas manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre also heaped praise on Hernandez's tenacity, and said he is an example for Mexican players to follow.
"Whatever happens, Chicharito is always fighting and preparing himself to do things right," said De la Torre, who coached El Tri between 2010 and 2013. "He has very good abilities and, combined with his perseverance, it has put him in the situation he is in at international teams like Manchester [United] and Real Madrid."