"I don’t want to speak bad about them" – Man Utd cult hero who haunted Chelsea

Few knew much about Javier Hernandez when he left Mexico to join Manchester United as a teenager.

But it did not take long for the man known as Chicharito to endear himself to United fans after his arrival in 2010.

And as the Red Devils head to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans will be relieved the days of the Mexican are long behind them.

It was Chelsea in the firing line when Hernandez instantly marked his arrival in English football, finding the net in the 2010 Community Shield with an unorthodox finish from close range in a 3-1 win.

Whilst the goal was not the prettiest, firing the ball off his own face and into the net, it was exactly what Hernandez needed to get off the mark.

After a dream start to life at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson declared: “The last player I remember making an impact as quickly is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Javier reminds me of Ole.”

The likeable Mexican striker had his ups and downs over the next few years but one thing remained constant – he loved playing against Chelsea.

Towards the end of his debut season, he popped up at the back post to meet at Ryan Giggs cross and dump Chelsea out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.

Just a month later, he burst through and scored after just 36 seconds as United defeated Chelsea 2-1 in what proved to be a Premier League title decider at Old Trafford.

In less than a year, Chicharito had ended Chelsea’s chances of three pieces of silverware and helped United get back on top of the tree.

The following year, the rivalry between the two clubs continued and Hernandez found the equaliser in a stirring fightback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge.

By the time Hernandez departed Manchester United in 2014, he had found the net eight times against the Blues.

But he wasn’t done there.

He returned to English football with West Ham in 2017 and duly found the net at Stamford Bridge just three minutes after coming off the bench to snatch a 1-1 draw the following year.

It was a result that dented Chelsea’s title hopes and the ned of a two-month drought for Hernandez.

Afterwards, he was unable to explain his remarkable record against the Blues.

"It's something that happens, sometimes you get – I don't know, it's difficult to say that because I don't want to speak bad about them because that's part of football.

"Sometimes I cannot score against another team and sometimes I keep scoring, against Chelsea for example.”

Hernandez eventually departed English football in 2019 having scored nine goals in 15 games against Chelsea in all competitions.

He bid an emotional farewell to European football last year when he joined LA Galaxy.

Just before the move was completed, he called his parents to inform them his career at the highest level was over in an emotional clip.

"I wanted to speak to you guys because the thing is about to get done,” he said as he broke down in tears.

"It's almost certain that I'm going to LA. It's okay, everything is perfect, it's only that, well it's like the beginning of my retirement.”

Hernandez's father briefly interjects, but his son continues: "Dad, try to understand me. Don't worry, look what I mean is that we're saying goodbye to a career that we put a lot of effort on and we worked, and I know you guys also feel it.

"We're going to look at the bright side, but whether we like it or not we are retiring from the European dream.”

The European dream was one which captured the hearts of United fans and gave those at Chelsea painful memories.

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