Jose Mourinho is wary of facing a West Ham side that “looks like they are playing to win the Premier League” in Manchester United’s opening fixture of the season, citing the Hammers’ ambitious moves for Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the summer window.
After a 2016-17 season that saw winger Michail Antonio and attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini finish as top scorers for West Ham, manager Slaven Bilic was desperate for a proven center forward, and Chicharito checks the box for a club aiming to challenge the top half of the table.
The August 13 fixture between West Ham and Man United is of special significance for Chicharito. After four successful seasons in Manchester, former Red Devil manager Louis van Gaal unceremoniously told Chicharito to bounce.
But the Mexican striker’s love for the EPL hasn’t diminished, and he’s aiming to exact a bit of revenge on his former club.
“I think I will be a little bit more excited than my teammates to be back at Old Trafford,” he said. “To start the season with my new team there is important and I will be happy to be there. I was desperate to come back to the best league in the world. It will help me a lot to improve as a player and person. We want to fight to aim for the Europa competitions.
“Slaven Bilic was a massive part of why I joined. Since I joined Bayer Leverkusen he wanted me, he spoke with me. He did everything he could to bring me here but couldn’t for a lot of reasons and now I am here I want to repay him.”
Sounds good, @CH14_! pic.twitter.com/xTXu6czrEp
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) July 26, 2017
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