Uruguay suffered a heavy blow in the Copa America Quarterfinals when defender Araujo retired due to injury, casting a shadow over the team's future. After the match, team manager Bielsa, in an interview, not only talked in detail about Araujo's injury, but also made a profound analysis of the saturation of the current soccer game and the defensive culture of Uruguayan soccer.
Bielsa first confirmed Araujo's injury as a muscle injury and said the exact result will be known after further examination. Bielsa could not hide his disappointment at the injury to the key player, but also showed his concern for the player's health.
Bielsa then turned the conversation to the issue of the current over-saturation of soccer matches. He pointed out that from August to June, European players have to participate in 40 to 50 matches throughout the season, and there are double matches every week, and this high-intensity match arrangement is a great test for the players both physically and psychologically. According to Bielsa, this excessive saturation of matches cannot be ignored and requires common attention and reflection from the soccer community.
When it comes to Uruguayan soccer, Bielsa was highly complimentary. He specifically mentioned the defensive culture of Uruguayan footballers as a key to a team's success in the game. Bielsa noted that the Uruguayan team is a very consistent team that is able to show great understanding and collaboration in defense. He particularly praised the dedication of players such as Araujo as an excellent representative of Uruguay's defensive culture.
Finally, Bielsa emphasized the important role of players in defense. He believes that defense is not only the responsibility of the coach, but also a task that players need to share. He emphasized that the Uruguayan team must focus on trying not to concede any goals, as this is an important guarantee for the team to win the game. At the same time, he also said that the style and image of Uruguayan soccer needs to be given and presented by the players together.
