Gesuchte Charaktere » ?Belmont plays its home opener against Western Kent

Javier Hernandez believes Louis van Gaal is still capable of turning Manchester Uniteds fortunes around - despite being told he was surplus to requirements by the Dutchman. The Mexican striker has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season since leaving Old Trafford for Bayer Leverkusen in September.Hernandez was named Bundesliga player of the month three consecutive times in November, December and January and has scored 16 goals in 25 league games so far this season. In contrast, United have struggled in front of goal and are currently in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification as they trail both Arsenal and Manchester City by four points with five games to play in the race for the top four. Hernandez has scored 16 league goals for Bayer Leverkusen this season Many would forgive Hernandez for harbouring resentment towards Van Gaal for the manner in which he was forced to leave Old Trafford.But the 27-year-old still respects the beleaguered United manager and says he can guide the club back to the summit of English football if he is given more time.He is a really good manager to be honest, Hernandez said, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ. He has his own ways like all the managers in the world. Magnificent Seven Games that rescued Louis van Gaal You will not find the new Sir Alex Ferguson in the next 50 or 100 years because he was unique. He was special.Van Gaal can do it but in football, time and results are going to speak about if he is the main man or if he is not.After being loaned out to Real Madrid during Van Gaals first season in charge, Hernandez was told by the Dutchman that Wayne Rooney would be his first-choice striker and his chances in the United first team would be severely limited if he stayed. Hernandez says Van Gaal told him that his chances of playing for Man Utd were very hard While Hernandez has scored freely for Leverkusen, United have struggled in front of goal and are on course to shatter their record for lowest goals scored in a Premier League season.The Red Devils have managed just 40 goals from their 33 games so far, while their previous low of 58 goals was set in 2004/05.Anthony Martial is Uniteds top scorer in the league with eight goals while Rooney is second with seven. Their combined total of 15 league goals is one less than Hernandez has managed for Leverkusen.Given how the season has gone for both parties, many United fans have questioned the decision to sell Hernandez but he says it was made clear to him that he was no longer wanted at Old Trafford.He just told me that my chances to play would be very hard, Hernandez said. I appreciate that he was very honest since the beginning.When I left, he told me my chances and my opportunities were going to be less because his main striker was going to be Wayne Rooney.If he wasnt fit for example, I was going to play but when he was ready he would play. Also See: Rashford can make Utd history Race for the top four LVG unhappy despite win Rooneys impressive return NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Luke Kornet played with a sore knee and wrist, but it was Belmont that felt the pain.?Kornet led Vanderbilt with 20 points and played a strong defensive game against the Bruins top player in the Commodores 80-66 win Tuesday night.?Matthew Fisher-Davis added 16 points and first-year coach Bryce Drew won first game at Vanderbilt (1-1) after replacing Kevin Stallings, now at Pittsburgh.?I thought we did a good job defensively of contesting every shot, Kornet said. Thats something we really emphasized. Just getting a hand up, the difference that it can make sometimes.?Vanderbilt won its 10th consecutive home opener, improving to 58-7 all-time.?Kornet made 12 of 16 foul shots and the Commodores hit 25 of 31.It started with Luke, Drew said. He was a warrior out there. You guys all know hes not playing at 100?percent.?Evan Bradds, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year last season, led Belmont (0-1) with 19 points in its season opener.?Bradds led the nation in field goal percentage the past two seasons, but hit only 6 of 15 -- in part due to the effective defense of the 7-foot-1 Kornet.Three blocks, it felt like he had about 15, the 6-foot-7 Bradds said. That height difference was big and his arms are long.?Belmont coach Rick Byrd was impressed by Kornets defense.?Evan is normally 10 for 15, Byrd said. I dont think were going to face many guys that can alter his shot as easily as Luke did.?Teammate Amanze Egekeze scored 18 and Taylor Barnette had 11.?Vanderbilt made 9 of 18 shots from 3-point range.?Vanderbilts Jeff Roberson and freshman Payton Willis both scored 10.ddddddddddddWillis was pressed into duty when Riley LaChance suffered a second-half ankle injury.?Vanderbilt jumped out to a 36-21 halftime lead, hitting six of its first nine shots from beyond the 3-point arc.?The Bruins missed 17 of their first 18 shots from 3-point range.?Belmont has the second-most 3-pointers nationally since 1995 when it moved from the NAIA to the NCAA. Only Duke has more.?Vanderbilt improved to 5-0 against Belmont, located 2 miles away.?TURNING POINT?Belmont cut the gap to 62-58 with 6:50 left, but Fisher-Davis four-point play gave the momentum back to Vanderbilt. He hit a 3-pointer and foul shot with 6:18 left.MISSING STAR?Belmont played its first game without Craig Bradshaw, who graduated last spring with 1,698 career points and led the Bruins to two NCAA tournaments and two NIT tournaments.?BIG PICTURE?Belmont: Coach Rick Byrd was concerned about his defense in the preseason, but his long-range shooters let him down, hitting just 9 of 41 from 3-point range against Vanderbilt.?Vanderbilt: The Commodores proved they could play defense under their new coach