Marcelo Bielsa has admitted frustration after Uruguay national football team were held to two draws in their opening World Cup fixtures, matches he believes they should have won comfortably.
The two-time world champions began their campaign with a 1–1 draw against Saudi Arabia national football team in Miami before returning to the same venue on Sunday, where they were forced to settle for a 2–2 draw against World Cup newcomers Cape Verde national football team.
Reflecting on the results, Bielsa said:
“We know we have two draws, two matches that we could have won, we should have been able to win,” the 70-year-old Argentine told reporters.
He further insisted his side did enough across both games:
“There’s no doubt we deserved to win the match with Saudi Arabia and also the match today as well. We should have won it.
“Even with the goals that we conceded, we should have won still.”
Defensive lapses prove costly
Uruguay’s first goal conceded came from a long-range free kick that slipped through the defensive wall, while the second resulted from an avoidable defensive misunderstanding.
Bielsa took responsibility for the lapses, saying:
“Organisational mistakes that a squad makes, they always fall upon the driver. And what I mean by that is the head coach,” Bielsa added.
He also admitted there is no quick fix for such errors:
“Then you just ask me how can I fix it? In those situations, there is no magical recipe whatsoever to fix them.
“They are circumstances that happen in football.
“And it goes without saying, we paid a very high cost for those mistakes.
“It is so expensive to concede goals like the ones that we conceded.”
Uruguay now sit joint-second in Group H alongside Cape Verde national football team, two points behind leaders Spain national football team, who earlier recorded a 4–0 win over Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, Bielsa stressed the importance of their upcoming clash with Spain, describing it as a crucial test in their bid to reach the round of 32.
“It is a gargantuan challenge for all of us. I’m the head coach. I’m in charge,” he said.
“Uruguay were only able to get two points of the six so far. And given the squad (Spain) have, we have to improve our image against a huge opponent.
“But in no way, shape, or form would I say that we are not going to be going into that match with the highest level of motivation.”
