Bielsa exits World Cup with admission: ’I haven’t left anything to Uruguayan football’

Marcelo Bielsa said that he had left nothing to Uruguayan football after overseeing their elimination from the World Cup. Uruguay failed to win a game in a group that included Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia and their exit was confirmed with a 1-0 defeat against Spain in Guadalajara during which 40-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was withdrawn at half-time after his error handed Spain the only goal of the game. The 70-year-old, who took over in 2023 and whose relationship with the players was poor, to the point of describing himself as “toxic”, will not continue in the post. Uruguay drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia and 2-2 with Cape Verde , and came into the final game knowing that they would need a point from Spain but did not manage a shot on target until the 83rd minute. Bielsa said that Muslera had asked to be taken off. He also replaced Fede Valverde, who departed angrily with his shirt covering his mouth. Defeat takes Uruguay’s run to seven games without a win, including a 5-1 hammering by the United States. “I have not left anything to Uruguayan football,” Bielsa said afterwards. “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 América and there is no need to even define this performance [at the World Cup]. My time doesn’t say anything.” “We could have seven points but we have two,” Bielsa added. “This is the result of my management. …