Cave, the intermittency of genius and Salas' match that he lost by a landslide [OPINION]

Let's say things as they are.

The Cueva we see now does not come close to the Cueva we all want to see. It is true that for weeks, the blanquiazul's number 10 has been getting better and better. Whether in the Liga 1 or the Libertadores, his continuity in Guillermo Salas' team allows him to maintain a competitive, intense, and consistent rhythm. He no longer just appears, now he collects and moves the ball as best he can, but not as he wants. Against Mineiro, for example, 'Aladino' was one of the most consistent and it is not unreasonable to think that he had his best performance. Let's be fair. He showed effort and sacrifice against the Brazilians, but what he is doing on the field does not fully digest that frustration between what he gives and what he can give.

Twelve matches and only one assist so far reflect Cueva's time at Matute, a surreal record that not even the player himself could have imagined since joining the club last March. The statistic hits as hard as the elimination from the Libertadores; but that is the reality and it must be accepted. The little impact of Cueva is a constant that needs to be put to an end in Alianza Lima, although it is already late, because he was brought in to fight in the tournament and not be eliminated so early. Now, there are no excuses that justify his performance or reasons that explain his present. The fans demand and the player must respond like the professional he is.

Let's say things as they are.

It would be mean to attribute all the shortcomings shown by Alianza against Mineiro to Cueva. Within his possibilities, 'Aladino' tried to give the best of himself to a team hopeful for flashes of good football from their genius or individual moments that can decide games, as is the case in the Liga 1. The problem is that when it comes to competing internationally against teams of higher hierarchy and with better quality players, that resource becomes useless and borderlines with weariness. Because a team that aims to compete in the Libertadores and has the objective of advancing to the round of 16 is obliged to offer something more in football terms, collectively if you will. And there Alianza lost by a landslide.

Cueva is not Alianza Lima and he is not the sole responsible for the poor performance that the team showed against Mineiro. It is unthinkable that the best offensive partner for Christian in this broad squad assembled by Salas is Hernán Barcos, the Argentinean who is almost 40 years old and has won the hearts of all, whether they are Alianza fans or not, and is close to becoming the club's all-time leading foreign scorer. That partnership works in the Peruvian tournament, but more is needed outside. And 'Chicho' has no excuses for not having surrounded Cueva better, because this Alianza has alternatives on hand to bring out his best. The difficult thing was that none of them could click with 'Aladino'. They tried with 'Rifle' and it didn't work out. Also with Bryan Reyna, who gets lost on the wing and struggles to play inside, and it didn't work out either. So, who is to blame?

It is true that Cueva has responsibility, but the Copa elimination includes more names on that list. What can be questioned about Christian is that he has not been able to approach his best version, because Alianza needed more from him, especially in the most difficult moments. But matches are not always won with genius and at Matute they are obliged to find solutions along the way. Now, with no chances of continuing in the Libertadores, the Sudamericana appears as a distant possibility, because first they have to beat Paranaense in their own home and hope that Libertad loses to Mineiro. Perhaps the focus is now on securing the three-peat championship, because only then the fans could digest that frustration. And for that, this version we see of 'Aladino' might be enough.

Let's say things as they are.

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