Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Mexico's Javier Hernandez says manager Juan Carlos Osorio 'like a genius'

LOS ANGELES -- Javier Hernandez called Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio a "genius" at a training session on Friday, but believes a number of factors will have to come together if El Tri is going to have a good World Cup.

The West Ham striker, in southern California ahead of a pre-World Cup friendly against Wales on Monday, was asked what it was like to work under the Colombian and the respect was clear.

"It's a great experience," Hernandez told reporters.. "Apart from being a great human being, he's a great man ... he's a special character.

"I call him in a way like a genius because they live in a completely different world than ourselves. Apart from that, speaking about football he has a lot of knowledge.

"Even if you can speak with him for five minutes about one game or player, he gives you the way he sees football or the way he sees that player."

But the praise doesn't necessarily mean Hernandez thinks Osorio will be the difference maker in Russia, saying it would be difficult for the team to make history.

"There isn't one thing that will make us create history," said Hernandez. "What we want is try everything so that the universe conspires in our favor and we can deserve to win. Even though the beauty of football is that you can't guarantee that."

Hernandez also refused to commit his future to West Ham after the arrival of new manager Manuel Pellegrini.

"Of course I am a West Ham player still, but we'll see,'' Hernandez said. "Right now what can I tell you? I'm glad there's a new manager? I'm sad there's a new manager? It's not the moment to speak about this. My mind is 100 percent on the World Cup.''

Asked if Pellegrini -- who led Manchester City to a Premier League and Capital One Cup double in 2014 -- was a good appointment by West Ham, Hernandez replied: "I don't know.''

Hernandez was more forthcoming about a reunion with his former Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs, the Wales manager.

A crowd close to the Pasadena Rose Bowl's 90,000-capacity is expected as Wales seek to avenge the 2-0 defeat suffered to Mexico in New Jersey six years ago.

"It's going to be very good to see Ryan again,'' Hernandez said. ``Ryan is in a new role now and to be manager of his country is great.

"But the most important thing is we are preparing well, we know we are going to the World Cup and Wales aren't. But that doesn't mean we are not taking them seriously, we will be very respectful and we want to improve compared to our other previous matches.

"It's going to be a very nice moment in Los Angeles where we have a lot of Mexicans to support us.''

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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