“That’s a complete lack of respect” - Luis Suarez launches scathing attack on Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa for isolating national team
Uruguay legend Luis Suarez has hit out at national team coach Marcelo Bielsa. He claimed that the players were isolated from the coaching staff and were also asked not to greet fans during Copa America.
Speaking to journalist Rodrigo Romano, Suarez claimed that Bielsa didn't greet the players and hardly talked to them. He added that the manager did not say anything other thanking the Inter Miami star after a 5-minute conversation to correct the issues in the camp. He said (via AlbicelesteTalk):
“During the Copa América, there were situations that hurt me, which I didn’t speak about for the sake of maintaining harmony. I support Canobbio in what happened. Bielsa made him do exercises with the players who were there as sparring partners for several days. That’s a complete lack of respect. A lot of players held a meeting to ask the coach to at least greet us with a good morning, because he wouldn’t even say hello.”
Suarez added:
“Bielsa holds a press conference and says wonderful things about the people, yet there was one day in New York when he asked us not to stop and greet the fans. I stood up and told him we were going to greet the fans regardless. I had a five-minute conversation with Bielsa as a team leader, and when we finished, he just replied, ‘thank you very much.’”
He continued:
“At the Celeste Complex, the staff aren’t allowed to come in, greet us, or eat with us. They even have to be careful which door they use to enter. It breaks my heart that this is how things are today at the Complex. Matías Vecino was the first to see it coming. No one questions why a guy like Vecino, at 30 years old, suddenly left from one day to the next? In the future, I ask the fans not to blame the players if things go wrong. Bielsa has isolated the entire group, even with the way he trains.”
Luis Suarez played his last match for Uruguay last month in September before retiring from international football. He retired as the top scorer for the country with 69 goals in 143 matches across 17 years.
Marcelo Bielsa grateful to Luis Suarez after Copa America
Marcelo Bielsa expressed his gratitude to Luis Suarez after the 2024 Copa America campaign. He pointed out how the Inter Miami star was still showing that he could deliver at the top level.
The Uruguay manager used Suarez as a super sub in most games at Copa America and was sticking with Darwin Nunez as his #1 choice to lead the attack. The forward played less than 90 minutes in the tournament and finished with one goal.
Bielsa's Uruguay are in action this month in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They face Peru in the next game before facing Ecuador.