Marcelo Bielsa takes swipe at journalists and football ‘leaders’ in first appearance since Leeds United exit - YEP 18/5/23
Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since his Elland Road sacking where he was unveiled as the Uruguayan national team’s new head coach.
By Joe Donnohue
The 67-year-old Argentine was greeted by more than 300
journalists and Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) officials at the Estadio
Centenario in Montevideo, where the veteran coach admitted he and his wife had
remained for two months following his return from England, despite originally
arriving for a short holiday. After speaking for an hour, Bielsa was given a
round of applause by those in attendance.
It was the ex-Leeds boss’ first public appearance since his
Leeds exit 15 months ago. Bielsa has been linked with jobs at former side
Athletic Club of Bilbao, AFC Bournemouth and Everton, jetting over to England
for talks with the latter which ultimately did not materialise in a formal
offer by the Toffees’ board.
However, the Argentine was able to reach an agreement with
the AUF this month, signing a deal until 2026 when he will hope to lead the
national team at the World Cup hosted across North America.
Still revered among Leeds supporters for his deference to
the purity of the beautiful game and supporter experience, Bielsa struck a
familiar chord in his Uruguay press conference, insisting once more it is fans
who make football special – the head coach’s humility also breaking through his
stern, often severe, exterior.
“In the world of football there are 20 great teams and I did
not coach any of them nor did they offer them to me,” Bielsa said.
"How could I be one of the great coaches in the world
and never manage one?
"What we human beings want is to be loved, there is no
human being who does not fight to arouse affection. In football, it is achieved
by installing unforgettable memories in the collective memory and the only way
is by winning.”
Whether his comments concerning football’s ‘mediators’ were
intentionally barbed or not is difficult to discern, however those in
attendance, many of whom journalists and broadcasters, saw the funny side in
response to Bielsa’s perceived criticism.
“Football is the people and the players and then there are
those who mediate between the people and the players. Those who mediate are the
coaches, journalists and leaders.
“Those are the worst in football clearly, that is verified,”
he added with sincerity, his demeanour unchanged throughout, despite murmurs
and chuckles in the audience.
The veteran will take charge of Uruguay for the first time
next month in fixtures against Nicaragua and Cuba. He says he will assess the
players he is least familiar with during his inaugural international camp, but
already has a good grasp on ‘three-or-four’ suitable players per position.