Ariel Herrero, beyond a bad streak

Football has a short memory. All it takes is for a striker to go through a bad patch for everyone to forget the goals he scored, the points he helped secure, and everything he contributed when the team needed him most.

Ariel Herrero is experiencing this reality firsthand this season, as some sectors are already beginning to question his performance . Perhaps now is precisely the time to remember why he joined Osasuna and everything he has done for the club.

During their first three seasons in the Segunda RFEF, finding a center forward capable of making a difference was one of CD Estepona's biggest challenges. The arrival of Ariel offered new hope, and his performance last season proved he could fill that need.

Goals that secured survival

The striker from León missed the entire first half of the 2025/26 season due to injury. However, he returned in time to become a crucial player in the fight for survival: he scored eight goals in just 20 matches and helped the team achieve their objective in the most decisive stretch of the championship. Atlético Malagueño and Atlético Antoniano—both twice—, Lorca Deportiva, Xerez DFC, Linares Deportivo, and Águilas FC were his victims. Decisive goals for a historic escape from relegation.

Much more than goals

It's also worth considering the role he plays within Manolo Sánchez's system. The Marbella-born coach's playing style gives significant importance to players arriving from midfield who exploit the spaces created in attack.

In that context, the striker isn't always the one who finishes the plays. Holding off defenders, drawing defenders away, and creating space for teammates are all part of a less flashy but fundamental job for the team's overall performance.

That doesn't mean Ariel should be exempt from the pressure to score goals. It's understandable that the fans expect more from him, but judging his performance solely on goals ignores a part of his contribution to the team. Demanding more is legitimate. Forgetting what he's already given, not so much.

Lebrija, a memory to regain confidence

This Sunday (12:30 pm), CD Estepona visits the Municipal Stadium of Lebrija, the venue for one of the most important matches of last season. There, the red-and-white team defeated Atlético Antoniano (1-2) with a brace from Ariel Herrero , in a victory that allowed the team to move closer to staying in the league, something that at the time seemed practically impossible.

That match serves as a reminder that the striker has already proven he can make a difference. It's not about justifying his current performance based on what he achieved then, but about trusting that he can rediscover his best form. Football always offers new opportunities, and sometimes returning to a stage where you were a key player can help you regain confidence. Ariel needs to rediscover his scoring touch, and the team needs him at his best.

Football also needs a memory

The Estepona team's number nine faces the challenge of transforming doubts into solid performances on the pitch. No one expects him to rest on his laurels, but neither should we judge him as if his time at the club only began this season.

When Ariel signed for CD Estepona, I wrote an article titled " Will the curse of the number 9 finally be broken? " Time has been the best judge, and the facts speak louder than words. Streaks change and certainties are fleeting in football, but the striker from León has already shown he has more than enough ability to deliver. Facts speak louder than words.

And if back then the question was whether that curse was over, today it should be quite different: are we really going to forget so soon everything he did for our shield?

CD Estepona Fans | The Voice of the Fans