Larrys Mabiala believes Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is a great addition to the LA Galaxy and Major League Soccer. He just doesn't believe Mexico's all-time leading international goalscorer is the key to his club's attack.
Speaking with MLSsoccer.com last week, the Portland Timbers defender said the best way to stop Chicharito is by shutting down winger Cristian Pavon first, because if you do, it's like limiting two players rather than one.
"To me, Pavon is probably the most dangerous player in their team. He’s the one who is going to create the most deadly chances for his team," said Mabiala, whose Timbers side faces the Galaxy Monday night in both teams' MLS is Back Tournament opener in Group F (10:30 pm ET | FS1, TUDN, TSN). "And of course Chicharito is going to be there to finish the action. So yeah, if we can shut Pavon down, it’s going to be more difficult for them to create."
The task takes on even more importance with the absence of Jonathan dos Santos (hernia surgery), Mabiala said.
"Without being disrespectful to the other guys, I think Pavon is the guy you have to look after the most to get the most chances to beat them," he said.
Mabiala isn't exactly alone in his opinion. MLSsoccer.com's own Calen Carr expressed similar sentiments on the MLS Today (shown above.) And Chicharito's early performances — before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the season to a halt — were relatively pedestrian, with two total shot attempts and none on target across two matches.
The French-born defender has seen enough of Chicharito to know that's not a fair reflection on his abilities. But his exposure playing across the best leagues of Europe over the years also means it may be easier to prepare for him than another forward they might be seeing in person for the first time.
"We know him, we know the player," Mabiala said, "because he’s a guy we’ve been watching a lot on TV. So we know his abilities and we know what he’s not really good at. So we will try to force him to do the things he doesn’t really like to."
None of this is to suggest the Galaxy made a bad move by bringing in Chicharito, just that Mabiala is determined to prevent a breakout from occurring on his watch.
"I have a lot of respect for the player, for the person as well," Mabiala said. "I think he’s a very good player. He still needs to adapt himself to the league, because it’s not that easy to come to a new league and country and all that. I hope for him that he’s going to do well for the Galaxy, but it’s going to have to wait a little bit longer, because I don’t want this to happen against us."
