Luis Suarez Slams Marcelo Bielsa’s Coaching Style In Uruguay

Former Uruguay striker Luis Suarez said Marcelo Bielsa’s coaching style has divided the national team to the point where some players are considering quitting the squad.

Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, Luis Suarez, who announced his retirement from international football last month, stated that Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics and changes since he took over last year have created a divide within the team.

“I will ask the fans not to take it out on the players when things go wrong. Bielsa has divided the whole group because of the way he trains,” Suarez told DSports in an interview on Thursday.

“The players will reach a limit, they’ll explode. There were even teammates who said to me they were only playing in the Copa America and nothing else,” he said.

The Inter Miami forward added some things that happened in the continental match in the United States, where Uruguay finished third, that he did not agree with but chose to keep quiet about.

“We all know that he doesn’t like to deal with leaders or players with experience. I had to keep quiet out of respect for the national team and the sake of coexistence. I didn’t want to be part of the problem.”

He added that one of the situations was the mistreatment of midfielder Agustin Canobbio, who was forced to train as a ballboy and a spareman.

“A player who is one of the 26 selected for the Copa America can’t be made to participate as if he were a ‘sparring’ partner. It’s annoying. I understand Agustin. I’ll support him, he’s been holding back a lot.”

Suarez also expressed concern about the negative atmosphere within Uruguay’s facilities.

“The staff are not allowed to come in and greet us or eat with us. Many of the players held a meeting to ask the coach to at least say good morning, he didn’t even say hello. It hurts me to see what the national team is going through,” he added.