The Interview: Javier "Chicharito" Hernández
The Mexican superstar on Thursday's LAFC-LA Galaxy MLS elimination game, his relationship with Carlos Vela, his favorite teammates in his career, whether he'll retire from the national team & more.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and I go back a long ways. We did a series of long interviews in 2016 and 2017 that formed the chapter for my last book. He has gone into minute detail explaining to me how he plays the game. And on Tuesday we had another long one-on-one interview, which is below. Paid subscribers to GrantWahl.com can read all of it today, and the audio version will be on the Fútbol with Grant Wahl Podcast on Thursday.
The entirety of the written interview below is reserved for paid subscribers. As always, you can still get the entire free audio version of my podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you like to go for your pods.
Grant Wahl:
The LA Galaxy meets crosstown rival LAFC in an MLS quarterfinal on Thursday night at 10:25 PM Eastern on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Our guest now is Javier Chicharito Hernández of the LA Galaxy. Javier, it's great to speak to you again. Thanks for coming on the show.
Javier Hernández:
Thank you, Grant.
Grant Wahl:
So I am legit excited about this game on Thursday. I was at the U.S. Open Cup game earlier this year between your two teams, LA Galaxy and LAFC. It got really nasty during the game and after the final whistle when your team won. How much do your two teams dislike each other?
“I haven’t retired from the national team. I will see in the future.”
Javier Hernández
Javier Hernández:
I mean, it's a way of putting the question, but I don't care how much we dislike or not. We just want to win. They are in our way to the sixth [title]. So it doesn't matter who's going to be in front of us, we want to go in and try to win. Fortunately we're going to play in LA. It's not in our home. It's not in our stadium. But we're going to play in our city. So we're glad about that. But yeah, the rivalry, you know how intense it is, so we're very happy that everyone, same as us, we're going to live that experience.
GrantWahl.com is reader-supported. Free and paid subscriptions are available. This is how I make a living, and quality journalism requires resources. The best way to support me and my work is by taking out a paid subscription now.
Grant Wahl:
So there is a famous photograph of you and LAFC's Carlos Vela together at the Chivas academy in 2003. You are 15 years old in the photograph. He is 14. What do you remember first thinking about Carlos Vela in those days when you were 15 years old?
Javier Hernández:
Yeah, he was going to be one of the greatest for sure. The way that he was playing, he was playing with all these players like myself and against other teams. And his talent and everything was just amazing. And even difficult to describe that he was with so much composure, so much talent. The IQ about the game that he had since then, it's been amazing. That's why the career that he had already and why he's, from my point of view, one of the greatest Mexican players ever.
Grant Wahl:
Now that you and Carlos Vela have played in World Cups together, now that you are the two biggest soccer stars in Los Angeles, how would you describe your relationship these days?
Javier Hernández:
Great. Same. Good. I think it's been a little bit complicated because of Covid. Because when I arrived over here, all the Covid situation, then he has his kids, or his son and his daughter. Then yeah, we haven't spent that much time that we would love to, but we've been in contact so much time. And then in the last three games that we played against each other, after the game, we catch up over here like 10, 20 minutes just chatting after the games.
And that relationship is going to last forever, because we admire each other. We love each other. And we know how much we both experience in our own careers and as well together. But you said it, in the World Cups and then in the national team and then as well here. Even though we are rivals, the admiration, the respect is going to be there always.
Grant Wahl:
I always like asking this question: In your opinion, what is the identity of this LA Galaxy team?
Javier Hernández:
I think the identity of this team is resilience, for sure. I want to use that word because it's one of our most important values inside our team. Because last season we couldn't draw so many games because, as you see as an example only, because we didn't have that resilience. That maturity of when someone's comes first, it's still as much time as is left in the club to try to maintain our style of play, maintain our mindset, maintain our focus, to try to come back from those games. You can see in the last run of the 11 or 12 games that we had in this season with a lot of draws, with a lot of victories, and just one very difficult and painful loss in Vancouver.
So yeah, that's what I think the identities are there. And I think as well, a lot of teams see us like that, because they all know that we have a lot of talent. They all know that we can have a good day. But yeah, last season, in the beginning of this season, they knew that if they didn't score first, probably they will win the games. But now it's completely the opposite. Now we can come back, as you can see in Houston and the last games that I mentioned before. So yeah, I think that the identity is about resilience, about that character and consistency we want to show.
Grant Wahl:
It really seems like Riqui Puig in particular has made a big impact on this Galaxy team since arriving this summer. What have you learned about Riqui so far?
Javier Hernández:
Sure, and Gastón [Brugman] and Martín [Cáceres], I think that center line that we said in Mexico, that we spoke before the World Cup. How do you say it in English?
Grant Wahl:
The spine.
Javier Hernández:
Yeah, the spine, exactly, of soccer. With the goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder or number 10, or just a striker or strikers. So those are very important ones. And I think these guys came to glue us inside and outside the field as well because the character that they brought with them. It's amazing. We have so much fun. Even though they don't speak so much English yet. But with the Spanish speakers over here, we joke a lot.
We take accountability in a better way. Their European experience as well. And international as well is very big. So yeah, same as Riqui, Martín, and Gastón, and as well, someone that I mentioned as well before the other game in Nashville that I wanted to mention is Douglas Costa. The way that he's been improving, the way that he's committing to the cause because people think that it's very easy to come here and just start scoring and making it is very easy. And we all realize that it's not that easy as a lot of people want to portray it. So yeah, I think Douglas Costa has been improving a lot and he's giving us a lot of his talent and working.
Grant Wahl:
Now, as someone who played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, the world's two biggest clubs, during the satellite television era, you are, I would argue, the most recognizable Mexican person in the history of the world to more human beings. What is it like for you?
Javier Hernández:
I don't know about that, but thank you.
Grant Wahl:
Think about it. Who else would be? I mean, these are the two biggest clubs in the world. What is that like for you to live that? Being the most recognizable Mexican person basically in the history of the world?
Javier Hernández:
With a lot of calm, with a lot of humbleness. Not fake humbleness. What I mean with humbleness is like I don't feel that I have more value or less value than any other human being. I don't care. Fame, I realize, thankfully with my grandfather and with my dad, that fame is a tool. Fame is something that you can utilize with good causes. Create good impact. It's only about that because then in the end, you need to be yourself. You need to be authentic. You need to live your life in the way that you want to live it, regardless if people like what you do, what you decide or not. So yeah, speaking about my profession and my job, I think I had a lot of very solid foundations from my family that they teach me all the things that a lot of soccer players don't learn. That is more in the outside of the game.
A part of my grandfather and my father that they were very focused on the inside of the field, but as well outside of the field. Those two and then the feminine side of my family, they were crucial. They were crucial to just make me feel that it doesn't matter how many goals I scored, it doesn't matter how many people know me, like you mentioned, I'm still Javier Hernández, Chicharito, whatever you want to call me. And this realization that I got after I played with those teams and stuff, it's like, yeah, what's next? It's just what's next. Because after those teams, even when you retire, what's next, you know? You are a soccer player for just a period of time. So yeah, we need to be very focused, and don't forget that we're human beings. That we play soccer. Not the other way around.
Grant Wahl:
So how is the human being Javier enjoying Los Angeles? You've been there for almost three years. Are there some things that you do in Los Angeles that you maybe didn't do when you lived in Europe?
Javier Hernández:
No, it's not about doing things. It's the consciousness that I realize this city brought me my daughter as well. She was born over here two years ago. I had the opportunity to be in the biggest organization in the MLS, in the way the MLS trust in me as well as does this organization. The way that they want to make this league more exposed internationally. And they want to grow a lot. So man, I've been just enjoying a lot of my life. It's not about how much I do, how much I don't do, because honestly the price is to try to be one of the best players over here.
It's my dedication and the professionalism. It is the time that I spend apart after trainings over here in the way that I have to take care of my body, in the way that I train double sessions in the afternoons, in the way that I try to organize my life so the main focus is just soccer. My mental training, my emotional training as well. So yeah, I mean this city brought me a lot of consciousness about myself, what I want to do with my life. And that's the same that I've been doing just with all the maturity and with all the decisions and with more self-esteem, I can say that, yeah, I want to enjoy. I want to give all every single day. I want to push myself beyond those limits that my mind sometimes tells me, to just keep growing and to try to be the best version of myself every single day.
Grant Wahl:
You've had a great season, 18 goals in MLS this season. You're Mexico's all-time leading goal scorer. Mexico needs goals. Tata Martino says he will not bring you to the World Cup next month. What is the feeling that you have because of this?
Javier Hernández:
I mean, the feeling is like I wish them the best. I hope we as a country can break that taboo kind of thing about the fifth game. So they can just go through that and then they can qualify, they can go as far as they can. And yes, as a soccer player, obviously you always want to play World Cup, you always want to be involved with the national team, but as well you need to respect it when you are not taken in consideration. So we need to move on. I need to be focused on myself, and I need to keep playing in the best way possible if I want to be calling up in the future.
Grant Wahl:
I guess that was one question I have. You have not retired from the Mexican national team. And I figured that's for a reason. So where do you stand on that?
Javier Hernández:
Same, that I haven't retired from the national team. I will see in the future. Yeah.
Grant Wahl:
Okay. Moving on here. In terms of if this game against LAFC, which is going to be watched by many people, if this game goes to penalty kicks, would you consider taking a Panenka?
Javier Hernández:
Taking a Panenka?
Grant Wahl:
Yeah.
Javier Hernández:
We'll see as well. We'll see. [laughs]
Grant Wahl:
I guess my question for you is you've had so much success in your career, but in soccer itself, the sport itself is about so many little failures by everybody, right?
Javier Hernández:
Life is about that. Life is about what do you do with your mistakes? And you can see the Mamba mentality. You can speak with LeBron James. You can speak with Derek Jeter that I'm watching his documentary now, with Tom Brady. With a lot of people that are just the greatest of the greatest in their sports. It's what do you do with the mistakes. That's the thing. It's not about what you do with the success, because success is not infinite, as well as the mistakes. You're going to keep making mistakes. The problem is how you learn from them.
And another thing that I learned a lot since I was a kid that my family, I think it's a very good way as well to see about mistakes and stuff is: Try to make different mistakes. What does that mean in the context? If I don't repeat the same mistakes. Because if not, you are not growing. At least in that mistake, try to learn as possible. Don't make that mistake and learn different mistakes. Do different mistakes. So I think mistakes aren't failures, that's a word that people are very scared to say it. And for me it's very dramatic because there's no failures. For me it's just mistakes, mistakes, and mistakes. And as well, you can see, I'm going to use one of the greatest of all time in my sport, a lesson that sometimes soccer or football is like that. Remember the 2008 Champions League final, it was Chelsea against Manchester United. Who scored the first goal? Cristiano Ronaldo? Who was the MVP? Who was the golden ball, and I think golden boot as well of that year? Cristiano Ronaldo. He misses a penalty, and they still won.
Soccer is like that. Soccer is not about, again, heroes and stuff. We need to learn that this sport the same as others, it's about grace areas. Grace, grace, grace. We'll like in this society and then make those systems to just be polarized. You are green, or you are blue. You are completely just to mention the other color, but it's like that. You need to be on the left or in the right, like man, you can take good things from each side and each side has their flaws. Like all of us.
There's even Lionel Messi, he is the GOAT of the GOATs of the GOATs. And then he has things that he needs to improve, but he knows. He hasn't won the World Cup, for example. So there's going to be always something, nothing is enough. So I'm very tired of listening to those words about failure and success and stuff. Even though competition brings that because, of course, if I do an interview after Thursday and I'm eliminated, I'm going to be completely frustrated, sad, angry, and I'm going to tell you that it was a complete failure for this organization and next year we need to bounce back. But that's what competition gives you, is how much you can grow.
Grant Wahl:
You've informed us that you are coming back to the Galaxy in 2023. How much longer do you want to keep playing this sport? And do you want the Galaxy to be your last team?
Javier Hernández:
As long as my body answers to my mind, that's something as well that I learned from my father and my grandfather, is as long as your body still reacts in the correct way, when the mind tells the orders, the commands, you can keep playing of course in a very high level. So yeah, we'll see. And of course, being here in this organization, I'm completely happy. I'm very committed to the cause. I'm very grateful. I'm very responsible about my situation. Then we'll see. We'll see. Of course, I want to maintain my relationship with this organization as long as we can.
Grant Wahl:
I want to finish up here the last couple of minutes with something I call the Rapid-Fire Quiz. And I only do this with the very best players I have ever interviewed. So I've done this with Ronaldo Fenómeno, with Zlatan, with Paolo Maldini, and I love doing this. So I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.
Javier Hernández:
Thank you for considering me one of the best.
Grant Wahl:
First off, what have you achieved in soccer that you are most proud of and why?
Javier Hernández:
Showing that you don't have to be the most talented to be in the top of the top of the top.
Grant Wahl:
Who is the player that you have most admired in your career and why?
Javier Hernández:
That's a very good question because my favorite player ever was Ronaldo Fenómeno, but in admiration, I'll say Cristiano Ronaldo, for sure.
Grant Wahl:
Why?
Javier Hernández:
Because in the way that he has pushed himself to be on the top, and still people don't want to give him credit because he’s not the most talented. There's another one that is more talented in certain ways, in different ways. But for me, talented is not only what you do with the ball, it's what do you do with this [points to his head] and with this [points to his heart]. And people don't want to recognize that because yeah, if Cristiano shows you that he can be on the top and there's a lot of people they don't want to push themselves to be that great.
It's like pointing out the failures that Cristiano did. Another example, like Roger Federer is my favorite tennis player ever. But someone that I admire a part of both difference more is Rafael Nadal as well, in the way that he has competed, in the way that they create that legacy between each other. It's like they live from each other. That's why you saw when Roger Federer retired how Rafael was very devastated because they feed from each other. So yeah, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Grant Wahl:
What is your favorite goal that you have ever scored in your career and why?
Javier Hernández:
I always answer to that question the debut, because without the debut none of this wouldn't happen. And not everyone can say that in their professional debut they score a goal. It's not normal. It's not common. And the other one that I'm going to mention for sure is the goal that I scored in my first World Cup against France, because of my family history that my granddad scored a goal against France as well in the World Cup.
Grant Wahl:
Who is the best defender you have ever faced and why?
Javier Hernández:
I'll say Thiago Silva.
Grant Wahl:
Why?
Javier Hernández:
Because of the intelligence that he shows. He has the aggressiveness and the defensive skills, don't get me wrong. But the intelligence about reading the game, he's one step in front of you. And that's one of my skills as well because I'm not the quickest, I'm not the strongest, I'm not the fastest. I try to be always one step in front of someone to try to score, but he was like in the same way or even ahead of me. So that intelligence, it was the toughest for me. Because then you can face very tough and strong defenders, but they're not as intelligent, so you can just take an advantage. But for him, in the few times I played against him in Brazil, he was very, very difficult.
Grant Wahl:
Who is the best teammate you have ever had and why?
Javier Hernández:
It's very difficult. It's very difficult. But names that come to my mind, I will just throw names. It's Ramón Morales, Patrice Evra, Miguel Layún, Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Pepe, Iker Casillas. Yeah, I think with those.
Grant Wahl:
Is there any particular common thread in those players that you say them?
Javier Hernández:
Yeah, because all of them, they all had a very big influence. Personal. They took their time, and even though probably with some of them it wasn't like a long relationship, but they took their time to try to help me in certain ways, in certain moments in my life, those players in particular.
Grant Wahl:
Who's your favorite player in the world today and why?
Javier Hernández:
Today? My favorite player today. My top three will be Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappé and Kevin De Bruyne.
Grant Wahl:
Any particular reason?
Javier Hernández:
Because I like watching them play. They play very good. I will buy a ticket to go and watch them play, for sure.
Grant Wahl:
Javier Hernández and the LA Galaxy meet crosstown rival LAFC in the MLS quarterfinal Thursday night, 10:25 PM Eastern on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Javier, thank you as always. That was a really enjoyable conversation.
Javier Hernández:
Thank you very much, Grant. Take care.
Check out the GrantWahl.com merch store now, featuring artwork from Dan Leydon.
Chicharito is one of my faves. I'm a United fan (Manchester and Atlanta) and a USA supporter but I love to watch him play with such joy. Great interview. Ta.