After ending an 11-game international goal drought, Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez is aiming to oust his new club boss Louis van Gaal when Mexico meet the Netherlands in the World Cup last 16.
"This whole year has been very tough. Players need confidence more than anything else and I've been very short of it. Very few people have shown faith in me over this past year," the 26 year old said of his more than a year without a goal for Mexico.
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Hernandez, who is known as 'Chicharito' (Little Pea), was left in tears after heading his side's third goal in a 3-1 win over Croatia on Monday, sealing their place in the knockout stages for a sixth straight World Cup.
The tough year has seen several reports that Hernandez could leave Manchester United, where Dutch coach van Gaal will take over after the World Cup.
Hernandez’s return to scoring form is another boost for a Mexico side that has gone from strength to strength since the appointment of coach Miguel Herrera last year.
The team shrugged off a far from impressive qualifying campaign to progress with ease from Group A, also beating Cameroon in their opening game and holding hosts Brazil 0-0.
“We have to stay very calm, very humble and not get carried away,” Hernandez said.
“This is just one more step forward, a very important one, but just one more step. If we want to make history, we have to beat the Netherlands and keep moving along the path we’ve set out for ourselves.”
Victory over the Dutch would match Mexico’s best showing at a World Cup, when they reached the last eight on home soil in 1970 and 1986.
However, to do so they will have to stop the tournament’s top scorers in the group stage with 10 goals in wins over world champions Spain, Australia and Chile.
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder, though, insists memories of a similar flying start to the 2008 European Championship before a shock defeat to Russia will ensure they do not get carried away.
“The older players have the memory of the Euro 2008,” the Galatasaray playmaker said. “It is true that at the time we got a bit too excited. Perhaps our overconfidence precipitated our loss.”
Sneijder said he, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie “have been sure this week to warn our young teammates.”
Van Gaal rounded on critics of his side’s counter-attacking style after the 2-0 win over Chile, but he could be forced to switch from the 5-3-2 formation that he started the tournament with due to injuries.
Bruno Martins Indi has not featured since suffering a concussion in his side’s second match against Australia, while Leroy Fer, who opened the scoring against Chile, is ruled out by a hamstring injury.
The absence of Martins Indi meant Dirk Kuyt started in an unfamiliar left wing-back role against Chile, and the former Liverpool forward is prepared to do so again to keep his place in the team.
“I was surprised that the coach played me at left-back against Chile, but I believe I did well,” he said.
“Defensively I worked hard and got forward when I could to create danger. It’s not a problem for me. I play for the team, not for me.”
The big boost for the Dutch is the return of captain Van Persie, who has scored three times in two appearances. He sat out the win over Chile due to a suspension.
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