Riveros, the 'Cachín' of the 'U' whose hierarchy will be key in the final stretch of the Apertura [OPINION]

Fortunately for the Paraguayan defender, that first - and wrong - impression he gave in his debut (defeat against Unión Comercio in Tarapoto over three months ago) was left in the past. In the anecdote. He was the last reinforcement to join Universitario and, because of his CV and being a foreigner, the expectation was high. And the demand higher. On top of that, his peculiar hairstyle brings him notoriety wherever he goes. On the field, he doesn't go unnoticed. When he plays well, it shows, but when he plays poorly, too. Fortunately, as the matches go by, Williams Riveros managed to get rid of that first and poor image, and has become a key man in the Universitario scheme. Especially since the arrival of Jorge Fossati. When the Uruguayan coach took charge, he established his preferred system, the 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2, depending on the situation). In that scheme, 'Tarzan' became essential.

And now is when Universitario needs its experienced players. Their direct rival in the fight for the Torneo Apertura, their 'comrade' Alianza Lima, has caught up with their matches and has taken the lead. The fans expected a stumble, but it was foreseeable. But that shouldn't discourage the fans. Of course, everything seems uphill and, once again, the objective does not depend solely on themselves. But beyond having to wait for a slip-up from those in front, the team must not let their guard down. They have to do their 'job'. And in that task, Williams Riveros will be key.

To continue in the fight, Universitario needs to have a perfect final stretch, and in that objective the defense is vital. The 'cremas' have shown that in attack, if they are sharp, they are lethal. But the defense has not disappointed. You can see Jorge Fossati's work. The 'crema' team has matches in which they are solid in the backline. Even sometimes Jose Carvallo goes unnoticed, thanks to the good work of the defense. In that position, Williams Riveros is the 'anchor' man. Matías Di Benedetto also performs his role very well and Aldo Corzo, although it is not his usual position, is also reliable in his central defense duties. But it is Riveros who, on occasions, has to almost literally disguise himself as Carles Puyol to put out fires.

Although his long stride and his movements sometimes are not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, he has other virtues that are just as effective and, in passing, enchant the crowd: he throws himself face-first if necessary, tackles without hesitation, provides outlet for the team on the sides, but also explodes when the play demands it. In addition, in every match, he can be seen talking, arranging his teammates, ordering them. And they listen. That's why he is key.

His presence gives that 'plus' of authority that Universitario always needs. His teammates see him as a role model and he does not feel burdened by that responsibility. We already saw it in Argentina, against Gimnasia in the Copa Sudamericana. Williams Riveros stepped up to the ball when 'U' had a penalty in their favor. The least expected that he would take it - which was strange because no one had him mapped for that role - but then we discovered that he did it to draw all the attention to himself and divert the gaze from Alexander Succar, the true shooter of the penalty. Not everyone does that. It not only reflects leadership but also shows that he feels like a leader and is seen as one. That is key in Universitario, especially because at the beginning of the year, when the team was going through a bad moment, it was said that the 'U' lacked leaders, that José Carvallo, the captain at that time, was not enough.

Don't let that charismatic mane and the gust of wind - 'Cachín' - confuse you. Williams Riveros can be quite cheerful, but when he steps onto the field, he does it with the seriousness of a leader. In this final stretch of the Torneo Apertura, Universitario will need him as a stronghold in defense, but also as a reference and voice of command in the team. And if they finally don't achieve this first objective, the 'cremas' still have half a year to aspire to the national title. Although 'Tarzan' did not have an auspicious debut, his presence will be a factor against Alianza Atlético this Sunday and in what is to come. That hierarchy, in any team, is extremely valuable. And Williams Riveros has it in abundance.

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