Say what you want about Rangers misfit and Aris loanee Jose Cifuentes, there could be no doubting the Ecuador international’s desire during Sunday’s 2-0 triumph over Pananthinaikos.
And that sort of goes against the narrative. At least in terms of how Cifuentes’ story has been developing over in Greece.
It did not go unnoticed by the eagle-eyed Greek media last month that, when Aris found themselves behind at home to OFI Crete, head coach Marinos Ouzounidis opted against introducing the Rangers-owned midfielder off the bench in an attempt to rescue a game that had fallen out of their reach.
Jose Cifuentes’ previous four appearances in an Aris shirt had all ended in defeat, including a 4-0 trouncing by AEK Athens.
But his no-show in early-January felt like the biggest blow yet for a footballer who had endured a miserable spell in European football since joining Rangers from Los Angeles FC a year-and-a-half previously.
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Rangers loanee Jose Cifuentes bounces back in Greece
“It is obvious that Ouzounidis has not been satisfied with the level of effort,” Sportal wrote. “From the low intensity he produces to his unwillingness to come forward and become the protagonist, a role that the club sought to give him when it decided to bring him in last summer.
“And to be honest, Cifuentes has not responded to [his manager’s criticisms].”
Now, five weeks on, has the penny finally dropped? Has Cifuentes turned a corner? Are Rangers’ hopes of a £4 million windfall – Aris can sign the former Major League Soccer ace permanently in the coming months – still alive and breathing?
Given that Cifuentes surely has no future at Ibrox, and given that Rangers could make themselves a substantial profit on a player who managed only nine Premiership appearances, those in Glasgow will be praying that an impressive display against Panathinaikos is not merely a false dawn.
Only a fine save from the visiting goalkeeper denied Cifuentes his second Aris goal at the 26th attempt.
Press Aris, meanwhile, described Cifuentes as returning to form with ‘a great performance’. The man-management of Ouzounidis, showing faith in the enigmatic 25-year-old and offering him a shot at redemption after that OFI Crete omission, appears to have had the desired effect.
Cifuentes dreaming of a historic league title with Aris
“I believe that all the players gave their 100 per cent on the pitch, and that was the key to our victory in the game,” Cifuentes said after one of his more eye-catching performances in an Aris shirt.
Aris have not claimed Greek football’s biggest prize since just after the Second World War. 78 years ago, to be precise.
A place in the division’s four-team Championship play-off awaits, however, if Cifuentes and co can overcome PAOK and Panathinaikos ahead of them.
Sunday’s commanding victory over the latter ensures that remains a possibility.
“I think that, in the beginning of the first-half, we had a very good start,” Cifuentes adds. I think that, at some point, we had a bad streak, but we want to get back on our feet. [Our recent improvement] is starting to show on the pitch and in our three consecutive victories.
“As for fourth place, we all know what football is like and we will see at the end of the season. But, obviously for me, we want to get into the top four and claim our chances for the championship.”
Two months ago, reports suggested that Jose Cifuentes’ chances of a permanent switch to Aris had become ‘stuck’ after a series of underwhelming displays.
So what better way to grease the wheels than to get back on the pitch, back to winning ways, and back in the manager’s good books?
