Overview

• In an Oct. 3 interview on the YouTube program Pase Filtrado, Gareca said Cueva needs a coach consistently close to him rather than being left on the fringes.
• Gareca called sidelining Cueva a waste of scarce talent and criticized the belief that he could be easily replaced in the national setup.
• He argued Cueva performs better when playing abroad and suggested the midfielder feels and functions best outside Peru.
• Peru failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Cueva largely absent during the qualifiers as coaches varied in selecting him, including brief consideration under Jorge Fossati.
• To illustrate the role of management, Gareca referenced Edgardo Bauza personally convincing Lionel Messi to return to Argentina’s national team.