Marcelo Bielsa faces player unrest before Uruguay’s Spain decider at World Cup | OneFootball

L'Équipe reports that senior Uruguay players convened a meeting with Marcelo Bielsa to question his methods before a make-or-break Spain match. The Argentinian is guiding La Celeste at his third World Cup.

Uruguay have never beaten Spain, with six defeats and four draws since 1950. They need a win at Estadio Akron in Monterrey in the early hours of Saturday, two am, after 1-1 and 2-2 draws with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde to reach the last 32.

After that flat start, former defender Diego Lugano said he was very worried about the lack of connection between coach and players, arguing Bielsa had yet to find the right system and that the squad did not look comfortable. In 2024, Luis Suarez also publicly questioned Bielsa’s man-management.

Leaders Sergio Rochet, Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde are said to have raised concerns over training demands they believe cause injuries and leave them fatigued for matches. The face to face, around 48 minutes, is said to have irritated Bielsa.

He is also said to have accused some players of trying to oust him after controversy over the omission of Luis Suarez and Nahitan Nandez from the World Cup squad. Bielsa has learned that a coach’s fate is not always tied to results and has shown resilience.

Source: L'Équipe