Marcelo Bielsa’s future as Uruguay manager in doubt | OneFootball

Uruguay fell 5-1 against the United States in Florida, casting doubt on Marcelo Bielsa's future as the coach of the Uruguayan national team. The heavy defeat reportedly deepened the rift between the Argentine and the rest of the squad, according to journalist Federico Buysan.

Moreover, the coach's playing style, which initially generated excitement among the players, has gradually faded due to poor results, and the atmosphere in the locker room is not the best for various reasons. Firstly, the absence of key players like Edinson Cavani at one point, or Federico Valverde during this FIFA double date against Mexico and the Americans.

Additionally, Luis Suárez's explosive statements about Bielsa and the environment at the training complex, a month after retiring from the Uruguayan national team, left a wound that never healed.

"What happened with Suárez took its toll, it's very clear, visible, and noticeable. Since that issue, no player has performed at the level they were before. There are players who feel the weight of the national team, who have repeatedly come, haven't performed, and yet he keeps bringing and playing them," said Carlos Bueno, a former Celeste footballer with extensive experience in Argentine football with teams like Boca, San Lorenzo, or San Martín (SJ).

However, the AUF came out to support "El Loco" after the thrashing by the United States. "The result hit us hard. But I see Bielsa with the strength to continue, he is very self-critical. In the face of that pain, there is reasoning, but we need to rebuild and move forward," said the sports director, Jorge Giordano.

"I feel responsible for all of this. What I think is that I don't feel the need to blame anyone, but I do feel that what is affected after a performance like today's is my management of the match, the players, the resources," said the former Leeds and Athletic Bilbao coach, among others, in a press conference.

The truth is that Marcelo Bielsa's tenure in Uruguay has been marked by ups and downs. His team qualified for the World Cup with a strong qualifying campaign, defeating Brazil and Argentina (at La Bombonera) and finishing third in the 2024 Copa América. However, the poor performance in some matches and controversial decisions leave the Argentine on the brink of the abyss. Will he continue to lead the Celeste?

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