Getty Images Mexican star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will not take one of the 3 overage spots on his country’s Olympic team. His club coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, said the forward is “going to get the requisite rest that he needs to perform in the Premier League.”
(Hernandez isn’t the only Manchester United player being held out; Ferguson told the FA that Team Great Britain manager Stuart Pearce couldn’t take any over-age players except for Ryan Giggs.)
The player who turns 24 on June 1 will take part in El Tri’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Guyana (June 8) and El Salvador (June 12), then shut it down for the summer. It will be his first significant rest in three years.
Chicharito missing the Olympics disappointing for fans, but Mexico should be fine without him. They eased through CONCACAF qualification, scoring 16 goals while conceding just 3. Alan Pulido, Javier Aquino, Miguel Ponce, and Marco Fabian have more than enough firepower to make a run in London.
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- wesbadia - May 10, 2012 at 4:24 PM
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I hear Rafa Marquez is looking for some playing time these days…
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- stackhousesoccer - May 10, 2012 at 9:27 PM
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Yes Sir Alex. Because representing your country is something no athlete likes to do. Thanks for reminding us that it’s all about Man U. Whatever.
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- schmutzdeck - May 12, 2012 at 11:46 AM
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stackhouse,
It is all about Man U.
MU pay SAF’s salary. They pay Chicharito’s salary.
Athletes like to do a lot of things. Party all night, go skydiving, go skiing, drugs, drive really fast cars, fast women; that doesn’t mean it is a good idea. Besides the Olympics are bush league as far as the world soccer community is concerned. The overage guys want to play because of the Olympics not the soccer, if can understand that being in the Olympic village is considered one of the greatest experiences of all time.
Hernandez just had a crap year in part becuase he got hurt playing for Mexico, did not get off to a good start and has gone on from there. If every EPL manager was perfectly honest with you they would all tell you they would prefer their players not play internationals.
They only upside is that if they do well in a tournament, their sale value increases. Otherwise the risk of injury and over use is way too high.
Playing for the US and getting hurt ruined whatever chance Gooch had at a career in Milan for example. So basically that messed up the whole transfer deal for him. Clubs don’t like having thier transfers messed up.
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- footballer4ever - May 11, 2012 at 11:26 PM
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Oh please! Let’s be real here. Olympic soccer is not as important or relevant compared to other tournaments. He’ll be able to play for the WC qualifiers which has more relevance than what Olympic soccer will ever have. Let other players develop and experience the spotlight which will benefit the national team in the end. I’m not Mexican so i could care less if he plays or not, but as a football fan, it makes sense fir hos future at ManU and for his contribution to the national team in the WC, the crown jewel of sporting events.
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- footballer4ever - May 18, 2012 at 10:41 AM
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A much fitting to this thread, in my opinion, would have been “Chicharito says “hasta la vista” to the Olympics”
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