Bielsa - crunch decision (Allsport).
BIELSA FACES CRUNCH DECISION
By From Sergio Ferraro, PA International, Buenos Aires
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Under-fire coach Marcelo Bielsa will
be offered a new contract by Argentina this summer, but there is an increasing
belief that he will pass it up.
After the humiliation of first-round World Cup elimination, the calls for
Bielsa to go have hardly abated.
And if he opted to take the Argentina FA up on their four-year contract offer,
it would be a move which would go against tradition.
His deal expired with Argentina's elimination, and AFA president Julio
Grondona confirmed the new deal was on the table.
"We offered it to him, as we always do," he said. "Our policy is to make
contracts for four years, and offer the renewal no matter the results.
"Until now, every coach that didn't make the World Cup final has not accepted
the renewal."
Bielsa would likely be criticised for continuing, and already the Argentinian
media are considering possible contenders.
Carlos Bianchi has won favour with most, four years after he was beaten to the
job by Bielsa, and has success in the Libertadores Cup and Intercontinental Cup
to his credit with former club Velez Sarsfield.
He continued to enjoy trophy-winning success with Boca Juniors and won 80% of
votes in a phone poll to determine the future Argentina coach.
But Bianchi, with his very personal style, is said to have personal
disagreements with Grondona and some players' agents. It could count against
him.
Hector Cuper, now in charge of Inter Milan, has also been mentioned widely,
but to leave Inter at their current strength would be a bold move. More so, his
defensive tendencies may not be welcomed by supporters.
Now coaching in Mexico, Oscar Ruggeri is another candidate.
Highly successful as a player, having won the 1986 World Cup, his coaching
experience is limited but he is known to get on well with Grondona.
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