Cucho Hernández Shines Despite Defeat at Santiago Bernabéu

Cucho Hernández left the Santiago Bernabéu less than satisfied with his team’s performance. The Colombian forward expressed criticism towards the Real Betis squad after their 5-1 defeat against Real Madrid, particularly highlighting significant defensive errors, especially during set pieces.

Despite the team’s struggles, Hernández stood out individually, netting his tenth goal of the season. He capitalized on a well-placed pass from Ruibal, skillfully maneuvering past Courtois and ultimately finding the back of the net. Out of those ten goals, eight have come in LaLiga since the start of the season, along with one in the UEFA Europa League against Utrecht and another in the Copa del Rey against Murcia. His double-digit tally already surpasses his previous best record for a season in Spain’s top division.

During his time at Huesca in the 2018-19 season, he scored four goals across 34 official matches. He improved to five goals while with Mallorca in the 2019-20 season, and managed two goals at Getafe in the 2020-21 season. Last season at Betis, he added five more goals in LaLiga from January to May. His performance at Watford during the 2021-22 season also yielded five goals, although he was only there for half the year, as he spent the other half in the United States.

The Betis club is reaping the benefits of the €13 million investment made for Hernández’s return to Spanish football last year. With 15 goals and four assists in 37 official matches, he has become the primary offensive reference for coach Manuel Pellegrini. Beyond his goal-scoring ability, Hernández boasts impressive physicality on the pitch, recording 81 duels won and 45 ball recoveries so far this season. He is also among the top three players in LaLiga for shots on goal, totaling 52 attempts, trailing only Mbappé’s 88 and Lamine’s 64, while tied with Vinícius.

In an exclusive interview with MARCA, Betis’s sporting director, Manu Fajardo, emphasized the physical growth of the team, attributing it to players like Cucho: “Fornals consistently performs above average in post-match physical data; Deossa is also a standout in this regard; Cucho’s capacity to repeat efforts is remarkable; and in defense, Natan imposes himself in most duels and can reach speeds over 35 kilometers per hour.” Hernández is proving to be much more than just a forward, as he aims to maintain his scoring streak while hoping his teammates can rally to turn the narrative around after the Bernabéu setback.