LAFC: Andy Najar may regret Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez comments
LAFC’s new signing, Andy Najar, fires warning shots across LA towards Javier Hernandez while heralding Carlos Vela. He may yet live to regret his comments.
Soccer and rivalry go hand in hand. It was a sport built for tribalism, ego and pride. And whilst we’re used to comments and opinions deriving from fanbases, we forget that players often share some of the same sentiments towards their rivals. And in Major League Soccer, there is no better rivalry than El Trafico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles FC.
And this week, Andy Najar once again reminded us of that fact.
Najar recently signed for Los Angeles FC from Belgium giants, Anderlecht. The Honduran featured 157 times altogether for Anderlecht, scoring 14 goals. The versatile right-back and right-winger, has even featured in the Champions League, scoring against Arsenal in the process.
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Najar isn’t exactly new to the MLS either. You may remember him for being on the books for D.C. United from 2010 until 2013, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2010. The Honduran made enough of an impact to catch Anderlecht’s eye, featuring 87 times for D.C. United, scoring 10 goals.
Now, he returns to MLS. This time to the west coast, where he’ll link up with an inspiring Carlos Vela, who last summer was rumoured to be a transfer target for North London club, Tottenham Hotspur. Vela was named the MLS MVP last season with a historic individual campaign in which he broke the single-season goals record and added double-digits in assists, too.
Meanwhile, his new rival, Javier Hernandez, who replaces Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the Galaxy’s new star centre-forward, will look to command his own respect in the league. It’s still early on in Hernandez’s time in MLS. He arrived from Seville before the start of the 2020 MLS Season as the man to replace Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Due to the inconvenience of a global pandemic, we haven’t seen enough to determine how good he could be for the Galaxy just yet, but one shot in the first two matches is not a positive start.
The new LAFC star remarked on both Vela and Hernandez’s capabilities, claiming that Javier Hernandez doesn’t worry him, whilst bigging up teammate Vela’s skill and determination. Originally reported by Diario Deportivo Diez via mlssoccer.com, Najar appeared on a Facebook live chat where he commented on the abilities of superstar teammate Vela:
“I have Vela on my side, the best player in the league. I’m not worried about Chicharito. He can even play when he’s on the ground. Vela is on another level. The way he plays, the way he trains. What he does on the field during a game, he does in practice every day. He has surprised me.”
Maybe with the MLS Is Back Tournament, Najar will discover that ‘The Little Pea’, as Hernandez is warmly known, is a cause for concern. The Mexican is still a renowned goalscorer, a high-calibre footballer, a natural star who is a nuisance to play against. Najar may yet regret such comments with LAFC still to play the Galaxy.
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As MLS is on the verge of returning, and the worry regarding the Florida heat hits our headlines, we know the El Traffico derby isn’t cooling down anytime soon. And Najar has only stoked the fire with his recent comments.