While some high-profile players continue
to give professional footballers a bad name, it's worth paying tribute to one
of the good guys - Javier Hernandez. You'd struggle to find a nicer bloke. He's always ready with a
smile, always acknowledges your existence and plays with an infectious
enthusiasm. Frankly, if your daughter brought him home, you'd be pleased!
It was always going to be a big ask to follow his explosive first
season with more of the same and so it proved. Injuries, playing too much
football and the simple fact that opposing players were used to him contributed
to a slight dip in performances last season - although 12 goals is hardly a bad
return. But after a full pre-season, the Mexican appears to be back to his
best.
He was superb against Braga in midweek and I was delighted to see
him get the winner at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. How Chelsea must be sick of
the sight of him! That's five times he's scored against the Londoners now
and, even though there was an element of fortune about the goal, you have to
say he turned home Rafael's errant shot with great aplomb.
I have to admit I don't feel too sorry for Chelsea after a couple
of decisions went against them. Time and again in recent years, we've returned
from West London fuming at refereeing decisions that have cost us dear. In
fact, I think we've played far better at Chelsea and lost in previous seasons
than we did at the weekend. The game itself showed once again why there's
nothing to touch the chaotic nature of the Barclays Premier League. Compare
that game to the arid wasteland of football we have to put up with during the
international breaks. It had everything - great attacking play, dodgy
defending, controversy and hostility on and off the field.
One factor
that perhaps got a little lost amidst the maelstrom was the performance of
David De Gea. He made a couple of really brilliant saves from Gary Cahill and
Fernando Torres and, while people are quick to pounce on any errors he makes,
it's only fair to point out his stunning shot-stopping ability.
United
have come through stiff tests at Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with maximum
points and yet have only played their very best football in relatively short
bursts. So we’ve built a platform as we enter a hectic spell of games
in three competitions.
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