
Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is currently in the news for his handling of Uruguay’s national team. As a result, former players such as FC Barcelona winger Raphinha have spoken about their interactions with the Argentine manager.
Last week, Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez got into a spat with Bielsa. The veteran striker shared his concerns about Bielsa, mentioning his distant demeanor and how he didn’t even acknowledge the national team players.
As part of the Uruguay squad at the 2024 Copa America, the Inter Miami star had a front-row seat to Bielsa’s management style.
Although Bielsa guided La Celeste to the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa America, Suárez didn’t hold back when addressing Bielsa’s handling of Club Athletico Paranaense’s Agustín Canobbio, who hardly got any playing time despite being part of the first team training.
Raphinha recalls relationship with Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds
While on international duty with Brazil, Raphinha, arguably the most high-profile player coached by Bielsa at Elland Road, reflected on his time with the Argentine.
The 27-year-old acknowledged that working with Bielsa at Leeds wasn’t always easy but emphasized that this is a common experience for all footballers and their coaches.
“Everyone has a difficult side to deal with, a very complicated side to deal with people or situations,” Raphinha told Globo. “Individually, I have a way of dealing with some things that, suddenly, are not as good as other things and other people.
“All people are different. Everyone has difficulty at a certain point in managing something. I don’t know what happens with the Uruguayan national team, what I know is what happened to me at Leeds.
“I had good times and bad times with him, it’s natural, like a big family, for example. At home I was with a lot of people, naturally, there would be conflicts and there would be good times and bad times. I believe within football, in a club, in a national team, it ends up being the same. There are moments that are good, there are moments that are not so good.”
Players on the Uruguayan national team appear to be sticking with their manager despite the controversy. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if the squad struggles this FIFA window this issue won’t go away.
