Former Real Madrid striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernández has shared his thoughts on Real Madrid’s recent exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Arsenal.
While the result was a tough pill to swallow for fans of the club, the Mexican forward encouraged a balanced view of the situation, recognising both the high expectations at the club and the quality of the opposition.
“You have to give credit to your opponents, too,” Chicharito explained.
“You always have to demand the maximum from a team like Real Madrid, and ultimately, their history dictates the demands themselves.”
He pointed out that Arsenal’s aggressive pressing from the start caught many by surprise, even forcing Thibaut Courtois into uncomfortable situations.
“Everyone expected Arsenal to sit back, but they came out pressing every ball. You can’t ignore that effort,” he said.
Despite the exit, Chicharito reminded fans of the club’s rich history of comebacks and success. However, he admitted that conceding such a scoreline made things very difficult.
“We have seen Madrid come back before, but in matches like this, it becomes a steep uphill climb,” he added.
Backing Carlo Ancelotti
The former forward also spoke about Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him during his brief spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I’ve always respected Ancelotti. The way he treated me at Madrid says a lot about the kind of coach and person he is,” Chicharito said.
He believes criticism is part of the job when you are at a club of Madrid’s stature, but he urged supporters to keep things in perspective.
“I don’t know if criticism is fair or unfair, because when you don’t achieve the goals you set at the beginning of the season, you have to accept that.
“When you don’t win the Champions League, people talk. But there’s still La Liga and the Copa del Rey. There’s a chance for a double,” he reminded.
Comparisons between Mbappe and Ronaldo
On the subject of Kylian Mbappe, Chicharito avoided direct comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo but praised the French forward’s determination.
“Mbappe doesn’t need to be the next Cristiano. He has already passed the goal tally of Ronaldo in his first season, even though many people wanted to see him as the new Hazard.
“That’s the kind of pressure you get at Real Madrid. People expect perfection, and even the smallest flaw gets magnified,” he added.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
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