After the Copa América, the national team won only one of the next nine matches, although a two-game winning streak allowed them to qualify for the next World Cup in the final stages. With a very disappointing last result, a 5-1 loss away to the United States, Bielsa's resignation became a very strong rumor, with Uruguayan journalists claiming that “his relationship with the players is broken” and leaving the team before the World Cup could be “a timely blow.” To begin with, the coach left the historic striker Edinson Cavani off the list for the aforementioned continental tournament, with Cavani stating that the coach “never communicated” with him. But Cavani was not the only leader of the Uruguayan squad who got angry with the Argentine: Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez also did. After defeating Brazil on penalties, the “Charrúas” lost to Colombia, who would be the finalist against Argentina, in the semi-finals, and then secured the bronze medal by also defeating Canada on penalties. Their good start was also marked in the CONMEBOL Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with four wins in their first six matches. Buenos Aires, November 19 (NA) -- Uruguayan national team coach Marcelo Bielsa will hold a press conference this Thursday. According to Noticias Argentinas, it will be held at 8:00 PM after a schedule change that delayed it by three hours. With the broadcast on the official AUF.tv channel, rumors of the 70-year-old coach's resignation began to grow. He has been criticized by “Charrúa” fans in recent months and has reportedly lost his connection with the leaders of the dressing room. In his 35-year career, Marcelo Bielsa has not been a coach known for staying in his jobs for long, and two years after taking charge, his cycle in Uruguay may be coming to an end. His presentation with the “Celeste” team was on May 15, 2023, and was very innovative: the coach who gives his name to Newell's stadium broke a 22-year streak of Uruguayan coaches in their national team, with the last foreigner being Daniel Passarella, also Argentine, between 2000 and 2001. As is his character, his arrival in the eastern team meant a complete revolution, which is clear from the first official tournament he had to compete in: he achieved third place in the 2024 Copa América in the United States. There, he topped his group with a perfect score, although he could not win again in the knockout matches. Among them are a 2-0 away victory against the Argentine team and another, with the same result, against Brazil at home. In any case, the weight of his own personality began to break what had been a great start. The “Pistoler” was very critical in an interview about the Rosarino's methods, highlighting that he “didn't even greet” his players, and also that he was not satisfied with them playing card games like truco. The former Barcelona striker also recalled some instances of disrespect during training, remembering that the coach made Fluminense's Brazilian winger Agustín Canobbio “pass the ball as if he were a sparring partner,” commenting that “you can't let a player think he's a sparring partner” and concluding that “the human side was lost in the National Team.” With the relationship deteriorated, the results also started to get worse.
