A mad rush to the single piece of rope separating field and fans could mean only one thing — the "Chicharito effect" was at work.
That's what Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade calls the devoted international fan base that Mexican phenom Javier "Chicharito" Hernández helped inspire at a blistering pace since joining the German soccer team in 2015.
"When I started my job as managing director . . . I clearly defined our objectives for the years to come," Schade told the Orlando Sentinel. "One central goal was the internationalization of the club with a special focus on North America.