Former Argentina National Team coach Edgardo BAUZA gave an interview to Rosario daily La Capital where he commented on his departure and the arrival of Jorge SAMPAOLI.
While BAUZA has no longer been the Argentina coach for a few weeks, the rumors circulating SAMPAOLI’s arrival to the Argentina National Team have been circulating in the media even while BAUZA was still at the helm. Here’s what BAUZA had to say:
Edgardo BAUZA’s comments:
“I was already out before this new administration came in. They already had their replacement in as well.”
“I am not bothered by the fact that SAMPAOLI is coming to replace me. What does amuse me is the fact that he is denying it. It doesn’t bother me (that he is the new Argentina coach). It actually amuses me that he denies it. In a recent press conference he denied it by saying that there is a a coach working when I already knew that he had been in contact with AFA execs and people close to them for months.”
Regarding comments made by former Chile National Team coach Claudio BORGHI about Jorge SAMPAOLI not having ethis:
“I don’t see it as logical or ethical, but ethics in football always loses. I am not going to say that I shouldn’t answer a call from an executive, because it has happened to me. I was called up once by a club, and I will not mention any names, and I told them that while there is a coach in charge I would not speak with them”.
BAUZA said that he contacted the coach and mentioned to him that they were looking to replace him.
“I don’t think it was a bad thing for SAMPAOLI to speak with them. What I don’t think was right is for SAMPAOLI to not make things clear. I just wish him the best.”
Credit to Juan ARANGO for the comments.
In the same interview, BAUZA spoke about the AFA and how they know nothing about football.
“They didn’t remove me earlier because we beat Chile (in the match prior to Bolivia). If not, I would have been thrown out before. When we started talking football, he (TAPIA) did not tell me anything because they have no idea about football. They are trade unionists. I do not say that to be disparaging, but it’s the truth.”
“Instead of telling me to go they wanted to wear me out with the rumours – obviously they did not know me. Once they realised that they were not going to get rid of me that way, they plucked up some courage and came and told me what they had done.”
AFA president TAPIA responded to BAUZA’s comments, here’s what he had to say:
“Good men say things in private. He had the opportunity to talk to me and he did not tell me anything.”
Regarding the players and Lionel MESSI:
“Before the match against Chile, I told the players that if we lose or draw, we would be out of the World Cup. MESSI never asked me to call anyone up.”
