Luis Suarez exposed what he called problematic working conditions imposed by Uruguayan national team coach Marcelo Bielsa during the 2024 Copa America, before urging fans not to blame the players if “something goes wrong” in the future.
Bielsa arrived at the Celeste on May 15, 2023 and immediately impacted the functioning of the team, according to Suárez.
“At the Celeste Complex, employees cannot come in to greet us and eat with us,” he said on the DirecTV program “De futbol se siempre asi” (Football is spoken like this).
“They have to be careful even at the door through which they have to enter. It breaks my heart that this is what life is like today in the Complex… Matías Vecino was the first to see it coming. Nobody questions that a guy like Vecino, who was 30 years old, left from one day to the next?”
Suárez went on to provide insight into the impact Bielsa's leadership had during the 2024 Copa América, detailing the lack of communication between the coaching staff and the players.
“There were situations in the Copa América that hurt me, but I didn't say them for the sake of coexistence,” Suárez said on the program. “Many players gathered to ask the coach to at least say good morning to us, but he didn't even greet us.”
La Celeste had a good run at the 2024 Copa América, finishing in third place after beating Canada 2-2 (4-3) on penalties. But beyond the results, Suárez showed a bleak picture behind the scenes.
“Bielsa gives a lecture and talks wonderful things about people, and in New York there was one day when he asked us not to stop to greet people and I got up and told him that we were going to greet people anyway,” said.
The striker has since retired from the national team and played his last game on September 6. He started as Uruguay's all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 143 games over 17 years.
Still, before hanging up his shirt, Suárez noted that he spoke with Bielsa in the hope of improving the current situation.
“I had a five-minute talk with Bielsa, speaking as a group leader, and in the end he only responded: 'Thank you very much,'” Suárez said.
With attention now turning to the 2026 World Cup, the striker pleaded for fans to be understanding of the situation. Although La Celeste occupies third place in the Conmebol ranking with 15 points in eight games, Suárez asked for caution.
“Tomorrow I ask people not to take it out on the players if something goes wrong. Bielsa has separated the entire group, even in the way of training,” he said.
Uruguay returns to action on October 11 against Peru in the next round of World Cup qualifying.
