Henry criticises Chicharito celebration
Chicharito started in place of the injured Karim Benzema and delivered an 88th-minute game winner to send Real Madrid to the semifinals of the Champions League and continue their push for back-to-back European titles.
Chicharito started in place of injured Karim Benzema and delivered an 88th-minute game-winner to send Real Madrid to the semifinals of the Champions League and continued their push for back-to-back European titles.
ESPN FC’s Adrian Healey recaps all the action from the Santiago Bernabeu where Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored the breakthrough goal to lift Real Madrid to the 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scores the game-winning goal for Los Blancos off of an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid goalscorer Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez discusses his game-winning goal against Atletico Madrid and the significance of returning to the Champions League semifinals for his team.
Atletico Madrid’s Arda Turan loses his cool after being shown a red card for his challenge on Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.
Thierry Henry has criticised Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez for his celebration after scoring a last-gasp winner against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, saying on Sky Sports: “What I don’t like is ‘Chicharito’ seems like he’s won the World Cup with that.”
Real advanced to the semifinals of the competition after the on-loan Manchester United man’s goal at the Bernabeu, which secured a 1-0 aggregate victory.
Hernandez, who has struggled for opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti this season, had been presented with a relatively simple finish after good work from Cristiano Ronaldo, and former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Henry said the Mexico international’s teammate deserved the credit.
“That’s Ronaldo’s goal,” the Sky pundit said. “At that particular moment he couldn’t shoot, so he didn’t take the risk of doing something stupid and silly with it.
“He saw a guy in a better position, which ‘Chicharito’ was, and he gave him the ball. What I don’t like is ‘Chicharito’ seems like he’s won the World Cup with that.”
Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez celebrates his 88th-minute winner against Atletico Madrid.
He added: “It’s a tap-in. Turn around and celebrate with Ronaldo. Even the camera knew — the camera is on Ronaldo for a reason.
“I think the pressure went through him. He knew he had to perform today and he had a couple of chances to do it.
“If Ronaldo had done that I would have said the same thing. You have to pass the ball, but it’s still a tap-in and you have to turn around and say thank you.”
Hernandez had told Mexican television after the match that he dedicated the goal to his Madrid teammates.
“It fell to me to score, but this is for all the team and the people who trusted in me,” he said.
Hernandez is not expected to remain at the Bernabeu beyond the end of the season, with sources telling ESPN FC that United could offer the Mexican to Southampton this summer.
“I don’t know about his future there,” Henry said. “To be fair to him he doesn’t usually play. Tonight was his opportunity and we don’t even know if he’s going to play after that.”
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