Bielsa faces mutiny from Uruguay

Marcelo Bielsa (right) is widely revered as a pioneer of coaching but his unconventional methods risk ruining Uruguay’s World Cup chances before the tournament has even begun.

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Nicknamed El Loco (mad man), Bielsa’s bold attacking approach has proved an inspiration to a younger generation of coaches including Pep Guardiola and US boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Yet, his famously demanding standards have often caused friction during a nomadic coaching career, and his stint in Uruguay has been no exception.

The Argentine’s arrival initially generated huge excitement which was fuelled by landmark victories over Brazil and Argentina in qualifying.

But they needed that flying start just to make it through after winning just three of their final 12 qualifiers.

The tipping point for many in the squad came at the Copa America in 2024.