Bielsa slams Flamengo over Arrascaeta row, gets emotional over Varela

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·30 juin 2026

Bielsa slams Flamengo over Arrascaeta row, gets emotional over Varela

Former Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa spoke about the World Cup elimination

In a farewell interview lasting more than an hour this Tuesday (30), Marcelo Bielsa spoke about Uruguay’s elimination in the World Cup group stage. At one point, the former Celeste coach pushed back against Flamengo over Arrascaeta’s muscle injury. Mengão “blamed” El Loco’s intense training sessions for the No. 10’s injury.

— My position was: if he wants to train, let him train. If he doesn’t want to, let him not train. If he feels he is at risk, then he should not train. Arrascaeta’s muscle injury reported by Flamengo has absolutely nothing to do with what we, as the coaching staff and medical team, did in terms of recovery and rehabilitation —, Bielsa began. — Arrascaeta is a guy who spent every single day in the service of his health. The recovery time for the muscle problem is the same as for the clavicle. Spotless, there is no way to improve it. What Flamengo did to turn Arrascaeta into the best attacking midfielder in the Americas is, from the point of view of managing a player’s health, extraordinary work —, El Loco added.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO ARRASCAETA?

Injured on the eve of the World Cup with a fractured clavicle in Flamengo’s match against Estudiantes (ARG), Arrascaeta was released early by Mengão to complete his recovery with the Uruguayan federation. When the star recovered from the shoulder problem, he returned to the field under a “heavy workload,” according to what Flamengo claims, and then developed a calf issue. Because of the injury, the No. 10 did not play a single minute at the World Cup and was only on the bench for one match, the last one, against Spain, which ended with Uruguay’s elimination.

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— He arrived with the clavicle injury (for the World Cup), and he was going to take part in the first full training session on the day before Spain. Imagine what the real chance of playing was, after two months without training and five days before the fourth match we would have had to play. Arrascaeta is so noble that I authorized the process. He turned from a glass player into an athlete. That person who built all of this —, Bielsa said.

AND WHAT ABOUT VARELA’S EMOTIONAL IMPACT?

Of the three Flamengo players called up by Uruguay, Varela was the one who had the most opportunities. The full-back started against Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain, delivering strong performances in Marcelo Bielsa’s view.

— From my point of view, Varela played a World Cup that moved me because of his commitment. Cáceres improved, Olivera, Sanabria, Bentancur, Canobbio, Araújo… then there’s De la Cruz, Ugarte, and some moments from Federico Viñas in the second half. So how can I say I feel that way because we missed 15 chances or because we conceded three goals or four avoidable goals —, he lamented.

IS DE LA CRUZ IMPROVING, THEN?

While Varela started every game and Arrascaeta did not play a single minute, De La Cruz came off the bench in every match. However, if Uruguay had advanced, the scenario would have been different. Marcelo Bielsa intended to put the midfielder in the team for the World Cup knockout rounds.

— De la Cruz played two out of every ten matches in the last six months. That is progress, in the three weeks he had with us, which, from my point of view, allowed us to rediscover a player we no longer remembered. He played at 84% of his maximum physical potential against Saudi Arabia. 92% against Cape Verde and 85% against Spain. For me, De la Cruz deserved to be a starter after the match against Spain. He deserved it and was working toward it —, Bielsa concluded.

HOW DID URUGUAY DO AT THE WORLD CUP, IN SHORT?

Uruguay finished third in their World Cup group, behind Spain and Cape Verde. Bielsa’s team drew with Saudi Arabia and also with the tournament’s surprise package. In the third round, the defeat to the Europeans ended any chance of qualification.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.