Forlán reveals advice to Núñez that ended striker's goal drought

Uruguay head coach Diego Forlán has disclosed the private conversation he held with Darwin Núñez to free him from the pressure of a 27-month goal drought for the national team. The striker responded by scoring a brace in the 4-1 victory over South Korea on September 28, a result that is part of the team's current positive run.

Forlán, who took over the role earlier this year, directly addressed the statistic hanging over Núñez. The manager considered the figure misleading due to the spaced-out nature of international fixtures. "It's not 27 months, with the national team you play every three, four or six months, that's quite unfair sometimes," Forlán explained in a recent press appearance. To provide context, the coach drew on his own experience as a player, recalling a six-month drought at Manchester United that, in reality, spanned only six official matches.

A message of confidence

The core of the manager's message was one of absolute confidence in the striker's qualities. Forlán conveyed to Núñez that a goalscorer of his calibre does not simply forget how to score. "I know you have goals in you and that you will score them, hopefully you'll score them with me, but you won't forget how to score goals," were the words, according to the coach himself, that he shared with the player. This talk aimed to remove the psychological burden from a situation that had become a recurring media topic.

Núñez's response was immediate. In the friendly against South Korea, the forward opened the scoring in the 13th minute, assisted by Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and completed his personal tally with Uruguay's fourth goal in the 62nd minute, following a pass from Guillermo Varela. That performance demonstrated the effectiveness of Forlán's approach and underlined Núñez's importance to the national team's project. "I knew that if he scored one, he would score two," added the manager, pleased with the outcome.

Uruguay's current context

Núñez's double against South Korea was a turning point in a preparation series. That 4-1 win is part of an upward trend for Uruguay, who are now on a two-game winning streak. After losing to Japan (3-1), Forlán's side beat South Korea and, more recently, thrashed India 6-1 on October 6. In that latest match, Núñez was again on the scoresheet, converting an 11th-minute penalty to start the rout.

The team's scoring form is evident, with ten goals in the last two matches. To follow the Celeste's upcoming schedule, fans can check the details on our fixtures page. The positive offensive momentum, with multiple players contributing, such as Matías Araujo or Rodrigo Zalazar, is a key asset for the challenges ahead. The full squad is available in the squad section.

Forlán has made it clear that Núñez is a fundamental piece for competing in the important tournaments on the horizon. The confidence placed in the striker, now backed by facts on the pitch, solidifies his role in Uruguay's attack. The national team's next match, according to the official calendar, will be the next step in the preparation of Forlán's side.

First reported at ESPN Deportes