Javier Hernandez: Being Named La Liga U23 Player of the Month for August Makes Me Very Proud

Espanyol midfielder Javier Hernandez said that the pace of La Liga matches and the quality of passing suit him better, and that the team currently has no pressure.

Javier Hernandez hopes to continue proving himself in La Liga. The midfielder, who came through Espanyol's academy, has been the team's biggest surprise in the early stage of this season. On Wednesday, when discussing the team's four points from the first four rounds and the upcoming match against Osasuna, he said the team does not feel pressure.

At a press conference held at Dani Jarque Sports City, Javier Hernandez mainly talked about his importance under Manolo Gonzalez. Previously, he gained a lot during his loan spell at Mirandes. Javier Hernandez said: "For young players like me, the most important thing is getting playing time. At Mirandes, I was fortunate that the team trusted me. I became used to playing full 90-minute matches, and my physical ability in duels also improved a lot."

Thanks to his outstanding performances in La Liga, Javier Hernandez was named the league's U23 Player of the Month for August. He said: "I am very happy, really. This recognition makes me very proud. Thank you very much to La Liga and to everyone, thank you to Manolo and the team."

Speaking about the differences between La Liga and the second division, Javier Hernandez said: "The main thing is that the pace of matches is faster, and the speed is very high. Speed and rhythm are the biggest differences and the things that impressed me most. In La Liga, the passers are better. The second division may focus more on physical battles, strength and smaller spaces. I think La Liga may indeed suit me better."

Although Javier Hernandez has been in excellent form, Espanyol have not truly found their momentum yet, with one win, one draw and two defeats from four league matches. However, he said the team feels no pressure: "The atmosphere in the dressing room is very good, everyone is very united, and we take it one match at a time. We have no pressure. We are only focused on winning every match, and it is too early to draw conclusions now."

Regarding his individual performance, Javier Hernandez believes he still needs to improve his finishing. He said: "I can do more. I have not had too many shooting opportunities yet, and as time goes on, I can improve in this area."

When discussing his relationship with Manolo Gonzalez, Javier Hernandez said the Galician coach is "very important." He said: "When I first started playing for the reserve team here, we had a very good year together. He helped me a lot, especially tactically, and helped me grow a lot. When this year started, he put me in the starting lineup in the first match, which gave me a lot of confidence."

Finally, when talking about his partnership with Roberto Fernandez, Javier Hernandez said he hopes the player can continue providing him with high-quality crosses. He said: "It is easy to play with him. He fights for every ball, he is a striker with strong scoring ability, and he is a great player." He also added that Calatrava "is also a great player with excellent technical ability."