Buenos Aires, November 20 (NA) -- The coach of the Uruguayan national team, Marcelo Bielsa, stated at a press conference that he feels 'with the same strength as on the first day to continue with the national team until the World Cup' in the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026. Additionally, as learned by the Argentine News Agency, the coach referred to rumors about his possible resignation, stating that there are people with 'interests in making the leadership wobble' and commented on the statements made by the 'Charrúa' idol Luis Suárez against him. The conference came after a tough 5-1 defeat against the United States, as the visiting team, in the last FIFA date prior to the end of 2025. Speaking to the press for an hour and 45 minutes, Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that he does not intend to resign as the head coach of the Uruguayan national team in the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup. 'If at any moment I considered that I should not continue, it was not at this moment,' affirmed the coach, who recognized himself as 'a great generator of tensions' and 'toxic,' as relating to him 'worsens the one next to him.' The 70-year-old coach admitted that he believes there are people with 'interests' for his leadership to 'wobble' and assured that if his players want him to resign, they must ask him for it, as he is not guided by comments he does not receive personally. Regarding the statements made by Luis Suárez a few months ago, who accused him of breaking the human treatment that existed in the Eastern squad, Bielsa responded: 'Suárez said what he said and had the effect it had,' assuring that he 'spoke about it internally with the players' and that it was a situation he was not used to, receiving criticism through the press and not in private. In any case, the Rosario native commented that he holds no 'grudge or desire for revenge,' and that he chooses to remember the historic attacker with a past at Spanish Barcelona 'for his contribution in the Copa América,' in which they achieved a third place. Regarding his playing style, Bielsa opined that 'in current football, whoever does not run, does not play' and assumed the blame for the past defeat against the North American team, stressing that 'the players ran like animals but did not manage to play well, and that is the coach's fault for not knowing what to do with the energy that was available.' Lastly, the coach stated that 'if one tells what is happening, coexistence becomes impossible,' making it clear that 'when spokespeople are used, sincerity is lost' and concluding with a metaphor: 'If there are disputes at home, let's not open the window for the rest to see how we are fighting.'
