Chicharito: Mexico will only improve if more players go to Europe
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is open to a return to the Mexico national team and would like to see more Mexicans move to Europe over the coming years in order to strengthen El Tri.
Hernandez left Sevilla to join the LA Galaxy in last month and big Mexican names like Guillermo Ochoa, Miguel Layun, Carlos Vela and Carlos Salcedo have all returned to North America over the last few years.
The plight of the Mexican players in Europe has also been stagnant of late, with Napoli's Hirving Lozano, Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera, Real Betis' Diego Lainez, PSV Eindhoven's Erick Gutierrez and Ajax's Edson Alvarez struggling for minutes.
"It would be awesome to not have to talk about who is the best Mexican abroad, I'd love for there to be 100 [Mexicans in Europe] and that there could be 20 that are difficult to compare, at least unless there is another Hugo Sanchez or Rafa Marquez," Hernandez said in an interview with TUDN on Monday. "Or that at some point in our history there is a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, Maradona or Pele. I don't know, but it would be awesome to have 100 Mexican players in all Europe."
Hernandez enjoyed a successful 10-year spell in Europe with notable stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, but hasn't been called up to the national team since September.
Head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino has stated that he was giving younger players an opportunity during CONCACAF Nations League play, but there have been reports that the 31-year-old striker and others had broken El Tri's disciplinary codes, something Martino has been reluctant to talk about.
Hernandez, however, stated that he is open to be called into the squad for friendlies this month against the Czech Republic and Greece.
"I've always been very honest and when I don't think it is convenient to carry on representing the national team, I will retire from it happy, but right now I'm open [to a call up]," said Hernandez.
Chicharito has also been at the forefront of a push to improve conditions for players with the national team, including bonuses and percentage of image rights, and stressed it isn't so he can make more money, but to help improve conditions for future generations.
The Guadalajara native emphasized that El Tri is a top five national team in terms of income, but questioned where the money goes.
"[We want] bonuses that are fair because the player is the one who earns least [from national team duty]," Hernandez said. "People believe that [players] don't go because they don't feel proud, but what they don't know is that it's not the player making the most out of this, but those who run it, which is fine, it takes work."
He continued later in the same interview: "We want a national team that is a world power, that gets to the 'fifth game,' a semifinal. But to get there, I'm of the idea that you don't give excuses, because if you give me everything, I won't give you excuses."
Hernandez made his Galaxy debut in last Saturday's 1-1 tie with Houston Dynamo and will play his first home game for the club on Saturday when it faces the Vancouver Whitecaps.
