LEVERKUSEN RETAINS FAITH IN FORMER UNITED STAR

German side Bayer Leverkusen have decided to retain faith in former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, 28, despite his recent poor run.


Head coach of the side, Roger Schmidt, has said that it was only a matter of time before the diminutive Mexican finds the net. The player has failed to score in eleven games in all competitions but the coach has said he would remain a top consideration.

Since a missed penalty against Freiburg on October 1, the former Red Devils forward has endured a goal drought that seems to be eclipsing his last term’s impressive run. He even started the current season excellently as he scored seven goals in eight games in all competitions before the slowdown.

“I haven’t taken him to one side to speak to him. Every striker goes through a difficult patch, and Javier just so happens to be going through one at the moment. I know it’s only a matter of time before he starts scoring again, though,” Schmidt said, reinstating his confidence in the player.

Leverkusen has qualified for the next stage of the Champions League, alongside French side Monaco so the last round of games would barely affect their European dreams. However, the coach insists on a victory as they want to end a run of five games without a win over Monaco.

“It’s about time we beat Monaco. We were incredibly unfortunate to lose to them twice in the last season’s group stage, and we were unlucky to only get a draw from our last game against them. That we have qualified is good, but Monaco is important with view to the upcoming matches,” Schmidt claimed.

Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly set to raid Old Trafford again as United manager Jose Mourinho is set to dispose defender Marcos Rojo when the transfer window opens. The German side would be hoping their investment in the Argentinean yields as much profit as Hernandez.