Javier "Chicharito" Hernández generated great expectation when his return to Club Deportivo Guadalajara, known as Chivas, the team of his dreams, was confirmed. After 14 years abroad, the striker returned to the team that developed him. The Rebaño Sagrado officially announced his signing on January 24, 2024, which sparked unparalleled enthusiasm among the red-and-white fans. However, his performance has disappointed even his most loyal supporters.
Chicharito's return generated a wave of excitement among fans, sales of jerseys with his number skyrocketed, and the Akron Stadium hosted 40,000 fans for the player's presentation. Despite the spectacular welcome, his return did not start in the best way, as he missed six matches due to a knee injury. He finally debuted on February 24 in Liga MX and only had two appearances in the Concachampions, both against the Eagles.
With the start of Apertura 2024, Chicharito continued to face physical problems. He played only four matches before suffering new injuries that left him out of the championship, participating only in matchdays 8 and 17, as well as the playoff in which Chivas were eliminated by Atlas. In the current Clausura 2025, the player has experienced discomfort during preseason and was not called up for the first match against Santos. Despite participating in the next four games, he has not been considered by coach Óscar García in the last three matchdays, remaining on the bench.
Regarding his goal-scoring performance, he managed to score in February, ending a 10-month drought by scoring against Cibao in the Concachampions, thus adding his second goal since returning to Chivas. Although Chicharito and the team claim to be working to compete in every match, it is evident that the player has not reached the level that led him to stand out in Europe, and his signing has not gone as expected.
In his recent journey with Chivas, Chicharito has played a total of 25 matches, 21 in Liga MX and four in the Concachampions, accumulating 1,120 minutes on the field, two goals, and one assist. Despite some flashes like his goal on matchday 14 against Puebla, the striker has had an inconsistent participation in the matches. After a distinguished career at clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, Javier "Chicharito" Hernández strives to regain his best form in a new chapter with Chivas.
