Bielsa accepts blame for World Cup debacle
June 16, 2002
Marcelo Bielsa admitted on Saturday that he failed as coach of Argentina at the World Cup, but pleaded with fans not to judge recent results in isolation.
Onefootball
"If my time as Argentina coach is judged by our World Cup results, then you can say I blew it," he said.
Bielsa took charge of Argentina in 1998 and built a side considered favourites to lift the World Cup after they won the South American qualifying group at a canter.
Their failure in Japan stunned the nation, though, and he has since been criticised for sticking too rigidly to a 3-4-3 formation and failing to find a way to field strikers Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo together.
Questions have also been raised over the omission of youngsters Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme. "We know that everyone expected a lot more from this team but the players always gave their best," he said.
"Nobody should hold anything against them, because they are serious professionals and they did their utmost. The squad was always unified and did what we asked them to do without complaining."
Bielsa then turned on the press, who he believes expected too much from his side. "Everything that was said about us being favourites was an illusion created by those who then changed their tune and said we were not in the best condition," he said.
"We never said anything about being favourites or not being favourites, we only wanted to do our job in the best manner possible, just as we have done during the four years in which I have been in charge. I think there are many positive things to come out of that time."
Bielsa arrived in Buenos Aires with assistant coach Nestor Pekerman and squad members Ariel Ortega, Roberto Ayala, Diego Placente, Matias Almeyda, Claudio Husain, Walter Samuel and Pablo Aimar. Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron arrived on an earlier flight.
Nearly 500 fans draped in Albiceleste scarves and flags had gathered early in the morning at Ezeiza airport to welcome Bielsa and his players back from Japan and they chanted for the coach to remain at the helm.
On Thursday, Argentine football association president Julio Humberto Grondana also backed Bielsa, but the manager reiterated that he was yet to make a decision on his future.
"As I said in Japan, I will answer that question when the time is right," he said. "My contract expires on June 30 so at the moment I can't say anything."
Despite opening their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over Nigeria, Argentina bowed out at the first hurdle after losing to England then failing to beat Sweden.