Bielsa's list of 12 and his press conference
May 6, 2002
Report from Christine
Here are the 12 names Bielsa's produced so far:
Chamot, Pochettino, Samuel, Zanetti, Simeone, Gallardo, Husain, Claudio Lopez, Bati, Ortega, Crespo, Canniggia
I've just seen clips from his press conference. He said he isn't going to call up any player yet who is still involved in any club activity, such as cup matches, playoffs, domestic league games.
He's still got plenty of time to see how players perform in training and to change his mind if necessary.
He hasn't decided whether Bati or Crespo will be the first striker - and hasn't yet ruled out Cruz. (Comment - with Crespo's recent run of injuries and Bati's apparent lack of form for Roma, he obviously doesn't want to make any firm decisions yet.)
Bielsa, the Argentine entourage, and Ortega and Husain set off for Italy this afternoon. They had massive amounts of baggage and what looked like a truck load of video cassettes (presumably footie ones which Bielsa loves!). Canniggia will undergo medical tests in Italy ovet the next couple of days.
Locally, there are mutterings as to why Riquelme hasn't been called up to which Bielsa replied that there were many players for that position and Veron was the lead. On Saviola's absence Bielsa said he has enough strikers.