Retired Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has slammed Marcelo Bielsa, saying his coaching style has split the national team leading to some players intending to quit playing for the country.
Suarez – who is Uruguay’s all-time top scorer – retired from international football in September – revealed Bielsa’s tactics and changes since he took over last year has caused stirred negativity in 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 said to DSports in an interview.
“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 there were things that happened in the continental showpiece in the United States, where Uruguay finished third, that he did not agree with but chose to be silent 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 for the sake of coexistence. I didn’t want to be part of the problem.”
He also added that one of the situations was how midfielder Agustin Canobbio was mistreated, as he was forced to train as a ball boy and a spare man.
“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 spoke on the negative atmosphere in 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.”
