Under-fire Borghi says he's not resigning

Claudio Borghi and Chile are in fifth place in South American World Cup qualifying.

Jorge Saenz/AP

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Chile's under-fire national team coach Claudio Borghi said Friday he won't resign and has lashed out at journalists who have reported he is about to quit.

Borghi came under increasing pressure following a 2-1 loss on Tuesday to Argentina in Santiago. It was the team's third straight loss in South American qualifying for the 2014 World Cup following defeats by Ecuador and Colombia.

"I haven't resigned. I am tired of the lies from all of you,'' he told reporters.

Chile reached the second round of the 2010 World Cup under Marcelo Bielsa, who resigned after a disagreement with the new leadership of the Chilean football association. Borghi has never been as popular as Bielsa, and his team is in jeopardy of failing to reach the World Cup in Brazil.

Borghi has caused some of his own problems. He is sitting out a four-match ban from FIFA for insulting a referee in a match in Venezuela in June.

He also had to fine and suspend several players for arriving late and drunk to a team hotel before World Cup qualifying matches.

Argentina leads South American qualifying with 20 points, with Ecuador three points behind and third-placed Colombia four points off the pace. Chile is eight behind.

The top four South American teams qualify automatically for the World Cup. The fifth-place team faces a playoff with an Asian team for another spot. Brazil, the host nation, qualifies automatically.

Chile plays it next match in March against Peru.