Marcelo Bielsa responds to Flamengo criticism and explains Arrascaeta injury | OneFootball

Marcelo Bielsa addressed the row over Arrascaeta’s fitness before Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia, responding to Flamengo’s criticism and confirming the playmaker will miss the game.

According to Coluna Do Fla, Arrascaeta joined up while still recovering from a clavicle injury after surgery. Uruguay authorised Flamengo fitness coach Lanyian Neves to join the camp to aid his return, but the plan was altered and the midfielder undertook exercises that skipped stages, suffering a new right-calf muscle problem.

Bielsa said Arrascaeta was monitored from day one by a Flamengo staff member who has worked with him throughout his career, and that nothing was done without this representative’s agreement. He accepted Uruguay bear responsibility for the calf issue.

He added every session and workload was agreed jointly with the Flamengo representative and Uruguay’s staff. If such an outcome occurs it should be viewed as a mistake, he said, while insisting all possible measures were taken to prevent it.

With Arrascaeta sidelined, the expectation now is a return only for Uruguay’s third group game against Spain. Guillermo Varela is likely to start, having featured in most warm-ups. De La Cruz is expected to be among the substitutes for tactical reasons and has no current fitness concerns.

Source: Coluna Do Fla