Bielsa cautious despite victory

17 June 2010 09:03

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa claimed his team must play better despite opening their World Cup campaign in impressive fashion.

Jean Beausejour handed the South Americans a 1-0 win over Honduras in their Group H meeting in Nelspruit but Bielsa's attack-minded side should have scored more. Chile squandered a number of chances, particularly in the second half, and Bielsa did not want to celebrate the country's first win in a World Cup tournament for 42 years for long.

"I think we won deservedly. We could have scored more goals and we controlled the match very well," said Bielsa.

"In defence we did not have to undergo too many stressful situations and we attacked constantly.

"But we have to go on in the competition otherwise it will not be remembered as an achievement.

"You cannot foresee it, but if the number of goals becomes important in this group, we may rue that we did not score all the goals we should have."

Nevertheless, Bielsa accepted the joy victory was likely to bring to Chile after such a long wait for international success.

The tournament in South Africa is Chile's first World Cup for 12 years and they had not won a game at one since reaching the semi-finals in 1962.

Bielsa said: "We do enjoy the affection of the people and we try to pay them back by playing at our best level."

Source: PA