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Valverde led the group of players in questioning coach Bielsa. Photo: Reuters. |
According to radio station Espectador Deportes , a group of veteran players have expressed their direct opposition to coach Marcelo Bielsa, demanding that the Argentinian manager change his working methods and adjust his tactics. The source indicates that Federico Valverde, Sergio Rochet, Manuel Ugarte, and Rodrigo Bentancur were among the players who initiated the request for a meeting with Bielsa.
During the discussion, the players expressed dissatisfaction with the excessively intense training, and also stated that this had caused many teammates to suffer injuries during the preparation for the tournament. In addition, the group of players also wished for Uruguay to approach the match against Spain with a more pragmatic style of play, with a deep defensive line and waiting for opportunities to counter-attack.
However, according to information from Espectador Deportes , Bielsa disagreed. He immediately convened a team meeting and reaffirmed his intention to continue implementing the planned playing style.
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The radio station also reported that Bielsa spoke continuously for 48 minutes, explaining his football philosophy and work ethic. The 70-year-old coach seemed to reiterate that he had faced pressure from players after he stopped calling up Luis Suarez and excluded Nahitan Nandez from the World Cup squad. He also affirmed his role in building the careers of several players, such as Martin Caceres and Maxi Araujo.
The meeting appeared to end on a tense note, with several players leaving the room midway through. Defender Jose Maria Gimenez tried to defuse the situation but was unsuccessful.
However, to date, Marcelo Bielsa, the players involved, and the Uruguayan Football Federation have not issued an official response. After two consecutive draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, Uruguay must defeat Spain in their final match if they want to qualify for the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup.
Source: https://znews.vn/cau-thu-uruguay-noi-loan-post1663355.html
