Analysing why Javier Hernandez stuttered vs Real Sociedad

Javier Hernandez

Manchester United came away from the Anoeta with a point following a 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are all but out of the competition after four rounds. United, meanwhile, remain top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who also drew 0-0 in their encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk.

But it was a game that the Red Devils should’ve won. David Moyes certainly felt that way. “It was a game we should have won: the points were there for the taking, and we could have put ourselves in a really strong position,” he told ITV. “We haven’t done that, but we are capable of doing it in the other games. We’re top of the group, but we should have taken three points.”

Striker Javier Hernandez was one player who ensured they didn’t. The Mexican had a frustrating outing and was hauled off after 62 minutes as a result. But it wasn’t all his fault, in truth. United’s final ball, not for the first time, was sorely lacking. Hernandez is a goal poacher. He isn’t the kind of striker that can take games single-handedly by the scruff of the neck, one who can run the length of the field, beat a few defenders, and then slot the ball home in some style. Instead, he thrives on the ingenuity of his team-mates; they create the chances, he takes up intelligent positions and puts them away.

Javier Hernandez Passes v Sociedad

He tends to drop deep nowadays to try and get on the ball rather than staying isolated up top. As the chart above shows, he did the same here. And typically, he got into dangerous positions. But more often than not the ball failed to reach him. His closest call in the first half came via a low cross at the near post from Shinji Kagawa in the 38th minute. He did well to make the right run, but La Real defender Inigo Martinez matched him by nipping in ahead and clearing the ball behind for a corner.

Javier Hernández Attempts v Sociedad

Hernandez’s best and only real chance in the game also came via good play from Kagawa. The Japan international played a lovely ball across the six-yard box in the 50th minute. Hernandez did well to stay onside, but he somehow managed to sky his shot over the bar from very close range. That was the moment that United could–and should–have snatched the lead. Chances were few and far in-between up to that point, and Hernandez had every right to put that one away.

With time ebbing away, Moyes decided he had seen enough. The Scot made a double change in the 62nd minute; Hernandez was one of them. His future has been in doubt recently following his lack of first-team action. Moyes recently came out and outlined how valuable the 25-year-old is to his plans, but he did nothing on this day to justify that.

But, as was mentioned, the Mexican shouldn’t shoulder all the blame. After all, he had just one real chance. He is a terrific finisher, in truth, and had he been given a few more opportunities by his team-mates, it’s likely he would’ve found the net. It was an off day for him, but with Moyes keen to retain him, he’ll surely get another chance to impress.