According to Mundo Deportivo, Bielsa responded to controversy surrounding his relationship with Valverde, stating that the two never had problems.
After Uruguay's elimination from the FIFA World Cup group stage, Bielsa attended a press conference and announced his resignation as Uruguay's head coach. During the press conference, media questioned him about his relationship with Valverde and the apparent tensions between them.
Bielsa said: "If I substitute a player, suggesting it's equivalent to exposing him is an untenable statement. I never intended to embarrass him. I've never had problems with Valverde, nor have I shown preferential treatment to any other player the way I treated him."
Bielsa also revealed: "When the World Cup qualifiers began, I told him, 'Look, I might need you to play as a full-back.' I also mentioned five top left-wingers, and he limited them in many matches by playing that position for Real Madrid. 'You might also play as a winger.' I told him about the high-level matches he played in that position. 'Or you might play in your most comfortable position, which is central midfield.' His response was very appropriate: 'I'll play wherever the team needs me to.'"
Bielsa continued: "After that, he did get playing time in some less-than-ideal positions. He played as an attacking midfielder for parts of several matches. Obviously, that wasn't his ideal position, but in the first and second matches, it worked for us, and he adapted well. I think his performance was better than he himself imagined and better than the general public's perception. It certainly had a positive effect on our team."
Bielsa finally emphasized: "I don't think I embarrassed him, and I always showed him great respect. If there was some kind of conflict, I don't know where it came from, because I've never had problems with Valverde."
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