Bayer Leverkusen forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez said that the stakes are high against AS Roma on Wednesday in a crucial UEFA Champions League Group E match.
"We're focusing completely on the game against Roma at the moment. It's a crucial fixture," the Mexican superstar told bundesliga.com ahead of his side's trip to the Stadio Olimpico. "We want to get a good result in Italy to be able to qualify from the group as quickly as possible."
The two teams played out a roller-coaster game two weeks ago in Germany when Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead in their home clash against the Giallorossi then struck twice late in the match to earn a 4-4 draw.
Hernandez scored the first two goals for Leverkusen, only for them to be cancelled out by a late first-half double by Daniele De Rossi.
#INSERT type:image caption:Javier Hernandez said Leverkusen need a good result in Italy.END#
The German side now have four points in Group E, while Roma are bottom with two points. Barcelona's 2-0 win at BATE Borisov gave them seven points to lead the group, with BATE in third with three points.
"We need to pick up as many points as possible in each Champions League game and on Wednesday we've got a great opportunity to do that," said the Guadalajara native. "We want to get a positive result, that's the aim in Rome."
Current Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, who spoke on Wednesday during his induction into the Hall of Fame at Mexican League club Pachuca, said Hernandez is a pure striker.
"Chicharito is someone who lives only to score goals," Del Bosque told ESPN in an evaluation of the Spanish Primera Division play of both Hernandez and Real Sociedad winger Carlos Vela. "They are two different players. [Chicharito] plays with great ambition and is generous with his movements while Carlos is a player of great quality, quick, confident with the ball and with fantastic skills."
Hernandez, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker, has contributed six goals in Bayer's last four games, and eight in total already. Leverkusen are currently seventh in the Bundesliga, 14 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The club were unbeaten in October until losing to top-four rivals Wolfsburg on the final day.
Hernandez said he has already put the 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg behind him.
"It was tough to take because we were playing well and didn't deserve to lose," he said. "We're training hard at the moment and that's all we're thinking about."