Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa says his authority was affected after Luis Suarez criticism

MONTEVIDEO – Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa said his authority was affected after striker Luis Suarez slammed his coaching style, but the Argentinian added that he had prepared for the South American World Cup qualifier defeat by Peru with “utmost seriousness”.

Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer Suarez, who retired from international duty in September, earlier in October accused Bielsa’s coaching style of having divided the squad and that some players were considering quitting.

The Inter Miami player added that some things happened at the 2024 Copa America in the United States, where 15-time champions Uruguay finished third, that he did not agree with but chose to keep quiet.

“I will ask the fans not to take it out on the players when things go wrong. Bielsa has divided the whole group because of the way he trains,” Suarez, 37, told broadcaster DSports.

“The players will reach a limit, they’ll explode. There were even teammates who said to me they were only playing in the Copa America and nothing else.

“We all know that he doesn’t like to deal with leaders or players with experience. I had to keep quiet out of respect for the national team and for the sake of coexistence. I didn’t want to be part of the problem.”

He added that one of the situations was the mistreatment of midfielder Agustin Canobbio, who was forced to train as a ballboy and a spare man.

Suarez also said he had to comfort Darwin Nunez after Bielsa’s criticism during half-time of a qualifier against Argentina in November 2023 left him in tears. Uruguay were up 1-0 at the time and went on to win 2-0, with Nunez scoring a second-half goal.

Bielsa, who is considered one of the game’s most influential coaches, said his side’s commitment was unaffected in their shock 1-0 loss away at Peru on Oct 12.

“What happened during the week does not condition or explain how we played, nor do I think it has had an effect because it was a week with a lot of effervescence,” Bielsa said after La Celeste lost to a late Miguel Araujo goal.

“As for how the situation affected me, I don’t ignore what happened, and I know that my authority was affected in some way, but I prepared for the game with the utmost seriousness, and the response I got from the players was the same as I have always had since I started working here.

“It didn’t alter the conviction with which the match was prepared and the way the group and the coaching staff worked. The preparation was the same as always.”

Uruguay captain Federico Valverde confirmed Suarez’s account, saying: “Everything Luis said is true. He never lied, he never said anything else that wasn’t true, he didn’t exaggerate at all, he said the things as they are.

“We need to talk about it as a team as we’ve always done it and improve and continue to grow. Since Marcelo has been here, we’ve always resolved issues talking... This will be another one that will be solved in the same way.”

Uruguayan Football Association president Ignacio Alonso pledged his support for Bielsa, who was appointed in May 2023.

Uruguay, third in the World Cup qualifying standings with 15 points from nine matches, next host fifth-placed Ecuador on Oct 15. REUTERS