Marcelo Bielsa praised for explaining why football will become ‘less enjoyable’ in the coming years

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa praised for explaining why football will become ‘less enjoyable’ in the coming years.

The former Leeds boss talked about the current state of football, saying that the commercial side of football will cause it to become less attractive in the coming years.

He expressed his thoughts in a fascinating press conference prior to his side’s Copa America clash with Brazil, with Urguary going on to beat them on penalties and secured a place in the semi finals.

Every football fan should spend 2 minutes watching this video.

Bielsa talking about the current state of football. Very poignant as we watch the worst European Championship of our generation pic.twitter.com/QLkhMSbWY4

— LUFC Worldwide ⚪️ (@LUFC_WorldWide) July 6, 2024

With Bielsa in charge, Uruguay have played some of the best football in the tournament, won all of their group stage matches to top Group C and will now take on Colombia, who won 5-0 against Panama at the weekend, on Wednesday (01:00 BST, Thursday), while Argentina, the current holders, face Canada in the first semi-final on Tuesday (01:00 BST, Wednesday).

Bielsa revealed a fear of his to the media, saying he feels football is becoming more commercialised and money begins to rule the sport, less attractive football will be deployed.

“Football has more and more spectators but it is becoming less and less attractive,” he began.

“What made the game the best game in the world at the time is not being prioritised today. Then this process will be finished. No matter how many people watch football, if you don’t ensure that what people watch is something pleasant, it will only benefit the business. Because the business only cares about how many people watch it.

“But in a few years, the players who deserve to be watched will be less, and the game produced will be less enjoyable, this current artificial increase of spectators will end. Football is not five minutes of highlights. Football is much more than that. It is a cultural expression, it is a way of identification. Possibly there are Uruguayans who only watch the highlights of the national team’s game, but that has nothing to do with the essence that allowed the fall in love of a population with the most significant identification sign that people have (football).

“I think we should all ignore the scenario they propose to us, where the controversy, the accusation, the determination of who is guilty, becomes an obsession that worsens the atmosphere in which football should be played.”

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This is how fans reacted on Twitter, with Marcelo Bielsa praised for explaining why football will become ‘less enjoyable’ in the coming years..

@LUFC_WorldWide: Every football fan should spend 2 minutes watching this video. Bielsa talking about the current state of football. Very poignant as we watch the worst European Championship of our generation. You can be a football purist and love the tactician side of the game. But there’s not a soul in the world, who can convince me that as a spectacle, football has become more enjoyable to watch than it currently is. The sport is dying

@Richierpw: This is spot on. Leeds were so lucky to have him

@JamesMRowlands: Most of my mates don’t understand why I rage at modern football so much. Here it is. It’s also the reason I hugely admire Marcelo Bielsa. The modern game is utterly rancid & deplorable. In the middle of his competition Marcelo takes the time to give us his views 🫡 Great thread

@CelticLisboaa: This is so accurate. Outwith Celtic, I struggle to watch an entire game of football anymore. The Euros I haven’t bothered with since the first games in group stage, it is horrific. The game is just not what it used to be. Used to be able to watch any game on any day.

@jbaillie22: Spot on. Football is boring nowadays. Too structured, too commercial, no freedom of expression for players. Genuinely can’t remember the last time I watched an exciting game on the telly.

@BilbaoBlackCats: Couldn’t agree more. Elite football is becoming less and less attractive. Rising ticket prices, rising salaries for players yet the quality of entertainment is terribly low. Wise words from a wise man. 👏 Marcelo Bielsa

@GrahamBrownlow: Philosophy of football right here, would be great if a Bielsa type outlook one day was allowed to shape FIFA. Alas the factors Bielsa identified as damaging the beautiful game will stop that ever happening.

@pejama4762: Imagine if he was the England manager with the players available to him.

@chef2jockeys: Absolutely correct. In my days (nearly 100 years ago 😊) it was a game for the working men and women to enjoy the game after a hard week’s work. These days they get priced out by the greed of the ⚽️ clubs. 💧⚽️

@Lady_From_Mars: This is why you stay in love with the Bielsa era. Connection that is truly underrated in the modern game.

@cyberistia: Bielsa might be onto something. I’m finding it hard to enjoy games lately. Maybe it’s the over-coaching; players feel robotic. There’s only so much passing around at the back, lack of shots, and navigating low blocks that we can endure. Boring is what boring does.

@2006kean: Hes right you know. I hate what football is becoming, including my own club. I had more fun going to watch non league Marine than any top flight or European game last season

@JakartaCasual: So much I’ve come to loathe over the years of ‘elite’ football, VAR, Customers, not fans. Instagram generation. Ballots. Pundits. TV coverage. Blame game. Moronic debate. Self interest over the game. 115. Club ownership. Prices. Stats/data. Fan TV. Attention seeking vloggers +++

@cremedelacoco:
1. get rid of VAR
2. Less games (both domestically and more importantly; internationals)

@retro_villa: He says it how it really is, football sold its soul a long time ago and now all we have is a global commercialized product, I miss the real football I watched growing up when it was more exciting

@ACertainDaniel: I don‘t think football itself got worse but everything surrounding it. It just looks like a gigantic business now instead of being a common folk sports. It‘s like Bielsa said: the game is more than a 5 minute highlight video. But 99% of the people only care about those 5 minutes.

@AntSSimo19: Spot on. Bielsa is a fascinating character whose football philosophies stand out in modern times of tactics overload. Purists may love it, but no way is the game more enjoyable than it was as a spectacle. The ponderous England performances at this #EURO2024 are evidence enough.

@Forzabahab: When I was younger I knew every best 11 of the top 2 divisions, and would go to games and watch football on tv no matter who was playing. Now unless it involves my club or England or a major tournament I’m not bothering. For exactly the reasons he puts forward. It is dying.

@mkeddie1502: Will always love the man and his passion based on an intelligent perspective …we were ALWAYS entertained by him at Leeds on and off the pitch !! Beautiful Man 😎😍😍😍🤍💛🩵

@twiggleslufc: Everything he says is absolutely spot on.

@shedyw: This man is just so far ahead and above everything #lufc