Uruguay’s national team manager, Marcelo Bielsa, has admitted that Luis Suarez’s public criticism of his coaching style affected his authority within the team.
In an interview with DSports, Suarez, who retired from international football last month, claimed that Bielsa had created divisions within the team and that some players were considering quitting.
The former Uruguay captain also criticized the treatment of midfielder Agustin Canobbio and the staff’s restrictions.
Bielsa, while acknowledging the impact of Suarez’s comments, emphasized that they did not affect the team’s preparation or performance in their recent defeat to Peru.
He maintained that the team remained focused and committed despite the off-field distractions.
The former Leeds United manager was appointed as Uruguay’s boss in May 2023 with the goal of building a strong team for the 2026 World Cup. Uruguay’s next match is against Ecuador on Tuesday at the Estadio Centenario.
