Poisonous Bielsa doesn’t leave ‘nothing good’ as Uruguay suffer World Cup | World Cup 2026 news

Departing Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has described himself as “perfect poison”.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has taken full responsibility for his side’s exit from the 2026 World Cup and has blamed himself for leaving “good” Uruguayan football behind during his time with the national team.

The South Americans lost 1-0 to group winners Spain to exit the tournament without a win. The exit came on the back of games against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde – the finalists, newcomers to the World Cup. from Group H in the second place.

At 19th in the FIFA rankings, Uruguay is the highest ranked team to be relegated so far.

Bielsa, the Argentina coach whose contract with the Uruguay Football Association was valid through the World Cup, said earlier that his work with the national team would end at the tournament held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The 70-year-old, who previously managed the English Premier League with Leeds United, admitted at a press conference in November – after the 5-1 defeat by the USA – that he was “poisoned”, linking it to his drive for perfection.

“I have received many complaints about my behavior,” he admitted, amid rumors of pre-tournament decision and players.

Bielsa’s reflection had a similar tone after the end of the World Cup campaign.

“What will I leave for Uruguayan football?” he said. “There is nothing, because any contribution that a coach can give to football in this country after three years of work will not work if the results are not achieved.

“Fourth place in the standings was not counted and finishing third in the Copa America did not exist, and obviously there is no need to explain what has happened now.

“A time that left nothing behind.”

The former coach took full responsibility for the World Cup campaign, saying he could have made the team do more by thinking about his players. But he felt that Uruguay would have had a chance considering what had happened.

“I think we should have won seven points from three games, but we will leave with only two points,” he said.

This was the second time that Bielsa has coached a team that did not go beyond the group stage at the World Cup, following Argentina’s performance in the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. He helped Chile reach the round of 16 in South Africa in 2010 for his best World Cup result.