The LA Galaxy’s already disappointing 2023 MLS season just got a lot worse. The team announced on Friday that their star forward and captain, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Hernandez got hurt on a noncontact play midway through the first half of the U.S. Open Cup clash against Real Salt Lake earlier this week. Real went on to win the game 3-2.
This is a tough blow for Galaxy, who are currently sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with just three wins from 15 games. While Hernandez managed only one goal this season, he is the face of the franchise and one of the locker room leaders, so his absence might result in an even bigger downfall for the LA team.
Hernandez will be out of contract at the end of the 2023 MLS season, leading many to predict that this is the last we’ve seen of him in Galaxy’s jersey. There are also some fears that Chicharito might end his career due to the injury.
Still, Galaxy’s head coach Greg Vanney believes Chicharito will return next year.
“I know with his work rate, and with his passion and desire to be out there, he’s going to do the work, and he’s going to put himself in position to come back and continue to play the game,” Vanney told reporters.
