Bielsa (standing) - backed by FA (Allsport)
ARGENTINA WANT BIELSA TO STAY
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Argentina might be crying, but their football
bosses still want coach Marcelo Bielsa to stay on, although they can't say how
they'll pay him.
Within hours of Argentina's early exit from the World Cup finals in the Far
East, the president of the country's football association, the AFA, Julio
Grondona, announced Bielsa would not get the sack.
"Of course I would like him to remain - his work was fruitful in many aspects
but not in the results," Grondona told Argentina's Radio Mitre.
Bielsa's contract with the AFA, which expires on June 30, has long been a
running sore because of the country's crippled economy.
The situation became so bad earlier this year that he wasn't paid for a while,
but he stuck it out in the clear belief that Argentina, one of the favourites,
had a realistic chance of winning the world crown which would, in an instant,
have solved his and the association's money worries.
But today, with Argentina hopes torpedoed by their 1-1 draw with Sweden,
Grondona seemed far from optimistic about the prospects of retaining Bielsa who
is expected to receive an attractive offer from a club in Europe.
"We will have to talk (with Bielsa) and discuss the possibilities," he
said.
"It depends on him and on our economic situation. We will see what
happens."
Grondona, who is also a FIFA vice-president, will remain in Japan until the
end of the World Cup tournament, but it is unclear what the players intend
doing.
"We will have a meeting tomorrow to see when they leave and where they will
go as many are living away from Argentina, but maybe they will travel to Buenos
Aires," said Grondona.
"The players have given everything on the pitch without losing their
identity, and there is nothing we can do, football is like this, we dominated
for 90 minutes."
Grondona said the players were inconsolable when he saw them in the changing
rooms at the Miyagi Stadium immediately after the match.
"They were very saddened and with red eyes. They cannot believe how
qualification has gone out of their hands, but if God did not want it, we have
to accept it," he said.
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