El Tri Watch: Javier Hernandez's Momentum Will Be Key for Mexico This Summer

It's been quite a ride for Javier Hernandez lately. The Real Madrid striker has finally gotten a chance to prove he can make a difference on the pitch.

Up until March, Chicharito had only played 19 times with Los Blancos, but only in three games had he made the starting XI.

Then he joined Mexico for the Ecuador and Paraguay friendlies in late March. Against La Tri, Hernandez bagged a superb long-distance shot to secure the win for his side.

After the game he told Fox Sports in an exclusive interview that he was frustrated with his situation at Real Madrid, as he was not getting the confidence he expected, per Marca.

Apparently, Carlo Ancelotti heard the Mexican and a week later sent him to the pitch in Real Madrid's 9-1 victory over Granada.

Although Chicharito didn't score, he would score six days later, when he started against Eibar. Hernandez netted in the first half in another win for Ancelotti's side.

Hernandez's momentum grew quickly from there, mainly because he was the coach's choice to replace Karim Benzema, who couldn't perform due to a knee injury he caught in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid, per AS.

The Mexican had quite a responsibility on his shoulders, but he didn't fall short. Instead, he assisted Cristiano Ronaldo in the last minute of the game.

The moment of the truth came in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, where he made seven shots, one of them to the back of the net to secure Madrid a spot in the semis, per WhoScored.com.

It was also the first time Los Blancos defeated Atletico Madrid in eight games.

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Loan Watch: Javier Hernandez goal vs Atletico Madrid http://t.co/b6303JX6Ur #MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtdUpdates_) April 22, 2015"

Chicharito kept going. He scored a brace that weekend, in La Liga versus Celta Vigo, and recorded two assists, one against Almeria and an other one in front of Sevilla.

Ever since his shocking declarations, Hernandez has appeared eight times with his club—the same number of possible games. Moreover, he has started five of them.

It's clear that once Hernandez gets hot, he becomes a key piece in the lineup. It was clearly just a matter of trust. Once he got it from Ancelotti, he started scoring.

The same thing happens with Mexico. Hernandez has appeared in every FIFA date with Mexico since he was first capped, per the Mexican football federation. 

Overall, he has been called to El Tri 72 times and has played in 63. He has also scored 35 times, becoming Mexico's second all-time scorer.

This summer Mexico coach Miguel Herrera will probably take Chicharito to the Gold Cup, which El Tri have to win if they want to have a shot at playing the 2017 Confederations Cup.

Hernandez will be instrumental in the attacking zone, where Mexico have struggled the past couple of years.

Chicharito can partner with Carlos Vela just fine. They both appeared against the Netherlands in a November friendly in which they both scored.

Even when the Real Madrid footballer wasn't going through his best moment with his club, he continued scoring with El Tri.

Imagine what could happen now that he's on fire. Miguel Herrera has to be very happy with the situation.

All stats appear courtesy of ESPN FC and Squawka, unless otherwise noted.