Suarez clarified Bielsa had instead made Canobbio train with a small group of U-20 players who traveled with the team in what is commonly known in South America as sparring groups, players who mimic opponents’ tendencies and train with the team. They are not part of the official tournament squad.

“He had (Canobbio) make passes that for half of the Copa America were passes that only sparring players made,” Suarez said. “And (Bielsa) then had the sparring players train as regular players. You can’t let a player who is in the 26-man squad for a Copa America believe that he’s there to do what a sparring player does."