Bengaluru FC went through a couple of dry years where they struggled to do well in the Indian Super League. However now with the new signing of midfielder Javi Hernandez and the arrival of Simon Grayson things are supposed to change drastically for the Blues. They have already won the Durand Cup and will be entering the ISL with more form and confidence.
The Blues lacked that fire in the final third and people think Javi will be taking up that responsibility. The Spanish midfielder is known for his exceptional quick passes, long passes and can break through the opponent’s defensive line with some intricate ball movement. He has proved his worth for ATK, Odisha FC and will look to prove a point once again wearing the blue of Bengaluru FC.
The 33-year-old netted six goals and five assists last season for Odisha FC and has the capability to replicate such numbers or even do better. The Spaniard recently sat with the official website sharing his experience in Indian football.
Sharing his thoughts on his playing career which includes a varied spell in European clubs followed by the ISL where also he has now featured for three clubs. So he highlighted how he has collected memories from everywhere he played. He is excited to return to action this time as the fans will return to the stands after two years.
“The experience of playing football across different countries and clubs has been amazing,” Javi stated. “I’ve met a lot of people, made a lot of friends, and made a lot of memories that I carry with me wherever I go. When I moved to India, I wanted to experience the footballing side of things, yes, but also the culture and the people. The last two years within the bubble were very tough, but now that we are back to playing in stadiums I am really looking forward to the experience.”
When quizzed about his move from Odisha to Bengaluru, Javi was straight forward as he pointed out how he was excited to join the Blues once he knew his time at Odisha was over. “When I realised that my time at Odisha was over, I wanted to look for a new challenge and the project at Bengaluru FC seemed really exciting to me. Now that I am here, I realise what the club is all about. It’s very professional, the staff and management have been very welcoming, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far,” he revealed.
Lastly, the Spaniard spoke about the growth of ISL as he has been in India for a long time and has played for several clubs starting from ATK to now Bengaluru FC and he feels that the league has improved and has also helped the national team.
“The Hero ISL is getting better every year, and as a player I think that’s a great thing because it pushes you to do better. The quality of the players, especially the younger players, is getting better with each season and you can see the difference in the national team as well. I think the Hero ISL has been a great step forward for Indian football,” the Spanish midfielder pointed out.
