Marcelo Bielsa lives to fight another day in his role as Uruguay head coach, after the Leeds United icon defended his recent record in the role.
Leeds United icon Marcelo Bielsa will lead Uruguay into the next World Cup, after days of speculation following a heavy defeat against the USA.
Bielsa ended speculation over his future in a dramatic press conference in which he reaffirmed his commitment to the national team.
However, Bielsa also gave a frank assessment of his own personality and his motivational techniques, amid reports of unrest in the dressing room.
Much of this unrest stems from Bielsa’s decision to isolate legendary striker Luis Suarez, which mirrors his treatment of Leeds legend Pablo Hernandez five years ago.
Leeds United legend Marcelo Bielsa could be on the market after the World Cup. Is the time right for him to come back to Elland Road?
Marcelo Bielsa ruthlessly axed Pablo Hernandez at Leeds United
Hernandez was a crucial part of Leeds’ promotion from the Championship, scoring the goal that ultimately sealed Leeds’ Premier League return away at Swansea.
However, Hernandez’s impact in their first season back in the top flight was limited, with the arrival of Raphinha pushing the Spaniard down the pecking order at Elland Road.
Things came to a head in a game against Leicester in November 2020, when Hernandez showed his disgust after being substituted, throwing his black armband to the ground in a gesture which angered Bielsa, according to a report from La Vanguardia at the time.
Although Hernandez apologised for his act of dissent, and Bielsa insisted his subsequent omission from the Leeds squad was purely performance-related, the veteran midfielder could never regain his place in the team.
The harsh truth was that Hernandez could no longer play the influential role Bielsa needed, as age finally caught up with him. This is similar to the situation Suarez found himself in at the end of the Copa America.
However, national teams do not function like club teams, and the Uruguay boss cannot simply sign a player of Raphinha’s calibre to replace Suarez. As a result, Bielsa has had his authority challenged due to his decision to freeze the forward out.
- READ MORE: When Marcelo Bielsa called a surprise Leeds United press conference as Uruguay speculation mounts
What did Marcelo Bielsa say about Luis Suarez?
Speaking in his remarkable press conference, via El Observador, Bielsa explained that his overriding memory of Suarez remains his contribution to Uruguay’s third-place Copa America finish.
However, Bielsa also criticised the forward for airing his grievances in public, stating that he should have come to him directly with any complaints, rather than going to the media.
Bielsa said: “If I have to remember Suárez, I remember him not for what he said about me, but for what he contributed to the Copa América, which for me was a very important event that would have been much more difficult without him.
Daniel Farke and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds numbers make for interesting reading 🤔
Daniel Farke
- Games – 116
Wins – 64
Draws – 28
Losses – 24
Win Rate – 55.17%
Marcelo Bielsa
- Games – 170
Wins – 81
Draws – 30
Lost – 59
Win Rate – 47.65%
“He helped us finish third; okay, third place isn’t worth much, but for me it is, and he was a key factor and maintained a completely supportive presence throughout the Copa América. However, a lingering feeling remains. Players can voice their concerns about the coach and find ways to express them, because there’s a natural outlet for complaints.
“If I live with the players and we spend a lot of time together, those complaints should be addressed there.
“This incident highlights two things: you can complain, you can make accusations, you can do it publicly, and you can avoid the path we all choose: if there are disputes at home, don’t open the window for others to see how we fight. This applies to our homes, and it applies to the national team.”
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