Marcelo Bielsa: 'We drew two games that were winnable'

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa was visibly displeased following his team's unexpected 2-2 draw against Cabo Verde in their second match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The result left Bielsa lamenting missed opportunities and a failure to assert dominance when it mattered most.

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There is no doubt that Uruguay is a better team than Cabo Verde, but that must be demonstrated.

During the match, Bielsa's emotions fluctuated. He celebrated Agustín Canobbio's goal that briefly put Uruguay ahead before halftime, showing relief and excitement. However, the final whistle signaling the draw prompted a swift, somber walk to the locker room, avoiding any interaction with the opposing coach.

In his post-match analysis, Bielsa stated, "There is no doubt that Uruguay is a better team than Cabo Verde, but that must be demonstrated." He elaborated that the team drew "two games that were winnable" and that they "should have won both, even with the goals we conceded."

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We drew two games that were winnable. There is no doubt that we deserved to win both. Even with the goals we received, we should have won them.

Bielsa identified critical moments where Uruguay faltered, specifically the first 20 minutes, the end of the first half, and the beginning of the second. He felt the team lacked the instinct to not only possess the ball but also to actively threaten the opponent during these periods. "This was the decisive moment of the match: the message the opponent gave was 'keep the ball and we'll avoid the third goal.' We didn't create danger in that time and we conceded a goal," he explained.

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The match allowed us to score differences, and when we ceded protagonism, the differences shortened. That was decisive for this result; the convenient thing would have been to maintain pressure on the rival.

Despite the frustration over the draw, Bielsa expressed confidence in Uruguay's overall quality. He acknowledged that while they conceded goals and struggled at times, the team created scoring chances late in the game. He remains focused on preparing the squad to face tougher challenges, including upcoming matches against Spain.

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We lacked that instinct to not only have the ball but also to damage the rival. That was the occasion to make real differences; it was the decisive moment of the match.