Uruguay were eliminated after failing to win a single game in Group H
Marcelo Bielsa has accepted full responsibility for Uruguay’s World Cup exit and said he “left nothing to Uruguayan football” after confirming his spell as head coach would come to an end following the group’s elimination.
Uruguay failed to qualify from a group containing Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde after losing 1-0 to Spain in Guadalajara, ending a disappointing campaign in which they failed to win a single game. The defeat extended their winless run to seven games, including a 5-1 loss to USA, and brought Bielsa’s three-year tenure to a close.
The decisive moment came before half-time when Fernando Muslera’s mistake gifted Spain the only goal of the game. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was replaced at the interval after asking to be withdrawn. Federico Valverde was also substituted in the second half, reacting angrily as he left the pitch. Uruguay required only a draw to progress but did not register a shot on target until the 83rd minute.
Bielsa said the campaign showed his own shortcomings rather than those of his players.
“I have not left anything to Uruguayan football,” Bielsa said. “A coach who has been in a country for three years and not got results cannot say he has made a contribution.
“Fourth place in the qualifiers has no value and nor does third at the Copa America and there is no need to even define this performance [at the World Cup]. My time doesn’t say anything.”
Uruguay opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia before being held 2-2 by Cape Verde, leaving them needing a point from their final group game.
“We could have seven points but we have two,” Bielsa said. “This is the result of my management. It was my job to manage a group of players that I did not manage to turn into a force. If you want explanations – which I don’t think you want – I would say that of the seven points we deserved, we got two.
“I am responsible for what Uruguay did at this World Cup. [Your] questions do not seek answers but a chance to attack me. I am responsible for all the disappointment because of the job I did. But if I have to analyse what happened, I also have to include the errors. Muslera was the one that decided to depart and I took Valverde off because I wanted to strengthen the attack.”
