Reynoso praised Cueva for Peru's victory: "Christian gave us that extra 'chocolate'."

The Peruvian national team had its first home appearance in the era of Juan Reynoso and the outcome was satisfactory: a 1-0 victory over Paraguay, with a goal scored by Alex Valera. After the match, the national coach analyzed the performance of the 'Blanquirroja', highlighting the collective strength and Christian Cueva's contribution since his entrance.

"In the course of the game, the result is very important, because it's always easier to win and correct mistakes. The truth is, we were surprised by the pace of the game, it seemed like a World Cup qualifier and not a friendly match," explained the strategist, after thanking the crowd for the great atmosphere at the Monumental Stadium.

"Beyond the 1-0 score, I think both Paraguay and us are satisfied, because we took a step forward in analyzing players, seeing that local league players can experience what the qualifiers are like. I think that's the part to congratulate the group on," added the coach.

Similarly, he praised Cueva for his performance and clarified the reason for having him as a substitute: "He didn't train for two or three days due to a stomach problem, like Pedro Gallese, who was able to join the practices in the end. Christian gave us that extra, as they say, the 'chocolate' factor, and that's the extra we're going to demand from the leaders," he said.

In that sense, the Peruvian national team's coach commented on his way of working to expand the squad for the future. "Like with every team, it was difficult at the beginning, also due to Paraguay's merit. The intention is to help players grow, because it's not the same for one or another. Carlos Ascues has already been through the national team process, he's 30 years old, and I think it's easier for him than for José Rivera, who is in his 20s," he stated.

"We'll always have that mix between those who are ready and those who will grow in the process. The rest, those who didn't stay for the second microcycle, will have their chance," he added. "If we're realistic, we probably could have drawn against Mexico, maybe even today against Paraguay. Beyond the result, what interests us is to see the response, how they train, how they live while working these 15 days at the elite level. These are details we're observing and we're happy," Juan Reynoso concluded.