Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez is embroiled in a rift with former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa, who currently manages Uruguay’s national team. Nonetheless, one player is coming to the Argentine manager’s defense.
Recently, Suárez shared his concerns with the veteran manager, highlighting the head coach’s closed personality, who didn’t even consider greeting the national team players.
The Inter Miami standout was part of the Uruguay squad at the 2024 Copa America, so he got a first hand look at how Bielsa manages. Nonetheless, it’s not a day-to-day situation which is why one former player doesn’t believe what Suárez is stating about Bielsa.
Former player comes to the defense of Marcelo Bielsa
Former Argentine footballer Claudio Husaín shared his experience working with Marcelo Bielsa for five years while playing at Vélez Sarsfield and for the Argentine national team. He commented that what Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez claimed about the Rosario coach is “impossible.”
“I had Bielsa for five years: four with the national team and one at Vélez,” Husaín said (h/t ESPN Uruguay). “Unless he has changed, but he must have changed terribly to be another person; it’s impossible for him to mistreat the people who work at the facility.
“From the person who sets up the nets to the one who paints the field, the one who washes the clothes, the one who cooks. Impossible. As for his treatment of the players, he doesn’t have a close relationship; he never did. In fact, he has changed that and has gotten closer to the players.
“In 1998, he kept his distance from the players because he is shy in that relationship and is afraid that getting closer would confuse the players. He has those principles. That’s why I emphasize, unless he has changed, this is impossible for me.”
Bielsa spent four seasons with Leeds, leading them to promotion to the Premier League in 2020. While the former FC Barcelona standout might not be a fan of Bielsa for how he’s coaching the Uruguay national team and only time will tell if his methods work, there will always be a large support group for Bielsa at Elland Road.
