READ MORE: Héctor Cúper: “There is deep disappointment. In the coming days we will focus on seeing where we can improve with some additions”
Because while Edison Flores, Matías Di Benedetto, and Diego Romero went out to apologize for the elimination from the Copa Libertadores and also the Copa Sudamericana, the Argentine coach already had it clear that the crisis went far beyond a bad result. Universitario closed the group stage with 507 minutes without scoring a goal, the worst offensive streak of the club in the entire 21st century, and let slip nearly 1.5 million dollars in sports prizes and qualification bonuses.
That is why, as soon as the press conference ended, Cúper launched a phrase that internally at the club is already starting to take on the force of an ultimatum: “We have had a talk, but I think in these days we will try to accelerate everything we can do.” It was not a phrase thrown into the air. According to El Comercio, today Thursday, May 28, the technical staff will hold a key meeting with the club management, where administrator Franco Velazco and sports manager Antonio García Pye will be present. There, Cúper will present a detailed sports report on the individual and collective performance of the squad.
It will probably be the most important meeting of the year at Universitario.
The lethal report
The report prepared by Cúper includes the evaluation of 22 of the 23 footballers he used in his first three matches in charge of the team: Nacional de Uruguay, CD Moquegua, and Tolima. The Argentine observed tactical behaviors, physical response, competitive personality, and adaptation to the style of play he intends to implement. And the conclusions would not be encouraging for a good part of the squad.
Especially for the 2026 reinforcements.
Of the six footballers added this season, the only one who passed Cúper’s preliminary evaluation was the Argentine Caín Fara. The defender quickly established himself as one of the most consistent players on the team and showed leadership in a defense that lost solidity during the year. The situation is different for Sekou Gassama, Miguel Silveira, Héctor Fértoli, Lisandro Alzugaray, and Bryan Reyna, who did not convince the Argentine coach.
Each case has its nuances. Gassama, for example, arrived as an international bet to boost the attack, but between injuries, low competitive rhythm, and little offensive influence, he ended up being one of the most questioned players by the fans. Against Tolima, he again came off the bench and once again showed absolute disconnection with the match. Today, internally at the club, his continuity for the Clausura is almost ruled out.
The situation of Héctor Fértoli also seems defined. The Argentine winger, who arrived as a player capable of giving imbalance and international experience to the squad, was only able to play 30 minutes against Tolima before leaving injured. Cúper feels that physically he cannot sustain the intensity demanded by Peruvian football, and his stay for the second half of the year also looks complicated.
Meanwhile, Bryan Reyna and Lisandro Alzugaray remain under evaluation, although both were marked by inconsistency. Reyna still has not managed to regain continuity after months without competition since leaving Belgrano, while Alzugaray alternated good moments with long stretches of football disconnection.
But Cúper’s report does not only target the reinforcements. It also reaches the squad’s leaders.
Edison Flores and Alex Valera appear at the center of the coach’s offensive concerns. Together they lead an attack that simply stopped producing. Flores has not managed to recover the physical explosiveness that made him the man of important goals, while Valera was left alone again, forced to constantly fight against closed defenses and without clear partners in attack.
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The statistic is brutal: Universitario has not scored since the 33rd minute of the defeat against Coquimbo Unido in Chile. Since then, five full matches have passed without goals. The ‘U’ stopped intimidating.
Other names also appear under observation. Paolo Reyna, César Inga, and Hugo Ancajima did not manage to explain football-wise why they should maintain a place in the squad. Also, players who started the year as undisputed starters ended up losing ground: Jesús Castillo stopped transmitting security in midfield, Miguel Vargas lost the goal, and Jorge Murrugarra ceased to be that balancing midfielder who had been fundamental in previous seasons.
That is why, when Cúper spoke of “accelerating everything,” he was actually referring to a total reengineering of the squad.
Cúper’s requests
The Argentine coach intends to incorporate, at minimum, a South American-class center forward who can seriously compete with Alex Valera. He also requested an external attacker, a “7” capable of playing across the entire offensive front and breaking lines with speed. Additionally, he considers the arrival of a holding midfielder with characteristics similar to those Rodrigo Ureña had: aggressiveness to recover, clean outlet, and tactical leadership, urgent.
The management knows that this position is a priority. In fact, Ureña’s name has informally resurfaced around Ate, although for now the main intention would be to find a similar profile rather than betting directly on his return.
Cúper also considers necessary the arrival of two interior midfielders and two fullbacks to give the team more tactical options. In summary: Universitario needs to rebuild almost completely if it really intends to fight for the four-time championship.
Moreover, the time is short. This Saturday, against Sport Huancayo, the ‘U’ will officially close its participation in the Apertura. Then will come a period of uncomfortable decisions: players who will be loaned out, footballers who will not continue, and negotiations that must be resolved quickly to avoid another lost semester.
The transfer window will officially open between July 1 and August 11. But at Universitario they know they cannot wait too long. After the World Cup, the Clausura will be played and the only obsession left alive will be to save the year with the four-time championship.
Because the Copa Libertadores left more than just an elimination. It left a brutal diagnosis. And Héctor Cúper has already begun to write the surgery.
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