Chile coach Rueda slams clubs for not releasing players

SANTIAGO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Chile national team coach Reinaldo Rueda has criticized local clubs Universidad de Chile and Colo Colo for refusing to allow their players to participate in a three-day training camp.

Of the eight Universidad players called up by Rueda, only forward Francisco Arancibia took part while goalkeeper Brayan Cortes was Colo Colo's sole representative from the four selected.

"It's a decision which I respect but which I don't agree with," Rueda told reporters. "They [the clubs] are the owners of the players. I don't understand it because at the end of the day the national team represents the work done by the clubs.

"The national team is what allows players to reach their potential internationally. We can't compete against clubs. Having said that, the absences won't affect us. We'll have another chance in the future to have those players with us."

Universidad and Colo Colo said they preferred to rest their players ahead of the teams' meeting on Sunday in Chile's first division.

Rueda replaced Juan Antonio Pizzi as Chile coach in January after the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, which begins on June 14.

The former Colombia, Honduras and Ecuador coach said the training camp - which ended on Wednesday - was a chance to observe new players and build team harmony. Enditem