Former Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has launched a scathing critique of Marcelo Bielsa’s coaching style, claiming it has divided the national team to the point where some players are considering quitting. Suarez, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer who retired from international football last month, expressed deep concerns about Bielsa’s tactics and the changes implemented since he took over last year. He believes these changes have created a rift in the team’s unity.
In a revealing interview with DSports, Suarez shared his apprehensions. “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,” he said. “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.”
Suarez, now playing for Inter Miami, went on to detail specific incidents that occurred during the Copa America in the United States, where Uruguay finished third. He admitted to experiencing things he disagreed with but chose to remain silent out of respect for the national team and to avoid further conflict. He explained, “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.”
One specific situation that particularly bothered Suarez was the treatment of midfielder Agustin Canobbio. “A player who is one of the 26 selected for the Copa America can’t be made to participate as if he were a ‘sparring’ partner. It’s annoying. I understand Agustin. I’ll support him, he’s been holding back a lot,” he stated.
Suarez also lamented the negative atmosphere surrounding the national team’s facilities. “The staff are not allowed to come in and greet us or eat with us. Many of the players held a meeting to ask the coach to at least say good morning, he didn’t even say hello. It hurts me to see what the national team is going through,” he added.
Reuters has reached out to the Uruguayan Football Association for a response to Suarez’s allegations and to obtain coach Bielsa’s comments. This situation raises serious concerns about the future of the Uruguayan national team, and the potential impact on the team’s performance on the international stage.
