Gallardo pleased with Bielsa extension

The 'Little Doll' is currently out injured for a month with a knee injury and has taken time to reflect on the state of the game.

Argentina will play a friendly against Japan in Tokyo in November to help pay their World Cup squad and give Bielsa some of the massive back-pay he is entitled to and Gallardo appreciates the national team manager's honesty.

"The AFA did the correct thing renewing their contract with Marcelo Bielsa," said Gallardo.

He said: "Argentina needs more people like Bielsa.  In today's Argentina, Bielsa isn't normal because he is honest and that can't keep on going that way."

With many observers expecting Argentina to remove Bielsa after their first round collapse in Japan/Korea, it could well have been a case that they could not afford to jettison him.