The Uruguayan national teama far cry from what it knew to be at the beginning of the phase Marcelo Bielsahe lost football and emotional stability, and he was no longer connected to that for a long time. In the middle were the hurtful darts of Luis Suárez after the 2024 Copa América, the losses of certain players who had their sights set on playing the Copa América World Cup 2026 and the public admission by the Argentine coach himself that he did not yet fit into the group. There are fears that this tense climate will continue until the event in North America in June-July.
Guillermo Varelaan outstanding right-back who was considered by Bielsa due to his great performance at Flamengo, where he recently won the Copa Libertadores Brasilirao and this Wednesday he reached a semi-final of the Intercontinental Cup – this Saturday they face Pyramids FC from Egypt – was publicly asked about his gift and also the atmosphere in the light blue team.
In dialogue with the Uruguayan media The morning of footballVarela explained what has been experienced from within in the last year and a half, the reasons for this public explosion and the consequences of the words of his former teammates. But projected onto the immediate future, his vision is optimistic: He flatly denied that there were currently any conflicts in his relationship with Bielsabut he emphasized what they don’t find when they go on the field and play.
“Nobody said internally that Bielsa wasn’t wanted. On the contrary, We are all with Marcelojust as he has supported us at other times. “The problem is a football problem,” he said. “In terms of football, Uruguay is not going through a good phasebut I have no doubt that we will progress with the quality of our players. From now on we have to improve,” he added.
And he examined what Suárez’s harsh comments caused personally and collectively after his resignation from the national team, which raised concerns about the coach’s management of the Argentina and Chile teams. However, rather pointed against the actions of the previous reference the dressing room than against the person who is still responsible for the technical management. “It was all when players came out to say things. A different climate was created because of the impact it had. Maybe because of everything that was said, there was a reaction from the team: Emotionally, this is deadly. “Whether you like it or not, you are moving forward and there are little things that take you out of focus,” he sent a message to the outside of the heavenly concentration. And he added: “Perhaps the bad moment in life together that was mentioned happened earlier. From then on it was all about profit. There was a big change. You have to speak and say things as they are. The problem at the moment is football and not coexistence” he insisted.
Varela counts the relief of qualifying for the World Cup despite the sanctions due to the incidents between Uruguayan players and Colombian fans after the US semi-final in 2024 in the combination of turbulence: “Fortunately, we got through with a lot of losses because of the problem after the Copa América game. Several things happened, but that’s it.”
Finally, he focused on the way the coaching staff worked, which was questioned to the point that even the coach himself took responsibility for the game and the bond with his team. “I have no doubts about what is being worked on during the selection. It’s brutality in the sense of the way they prepare things. I have no doubt that we will improve because everyone is working hard. I know the hours spent on training and game plans,” Varela claimed.
Of course, the doubts remain and have been heightened after the setback of the last FIFA window, in which the Uruguayans lost 5-1 to the USA in a friendly. After this defeat, Bielsa left the players out, took responsibility and was as self-critical as he was sincere: “I’m a shy, obsessive, technical person. It’s difficult for me to act relaxed and friendly. On a human level, of course, I don’t yet have acceptance in this group that I lead.”
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