Leeds United Marcelo Bielsa has told Leeds Live that Gaetano Berardi put in one of his best performances for two years against Derby County.
Berardi was only on the pitch for the first half-hour of the game, before he had to be taken off with a serious injury.
The Leeds defender has damaged his ACL, which means that he could be out of action for nine months.
But Bielsa only had positive words for the Swiss defender, and insists that he was actually very impressed by his display in the Whites’ 3-1 victory at Pride Park.
“Berardi, for all of us, he’s an example,” Bielsa said.
“Don’t think the fact I say he is an example, I don’t value his football ability. The 30 minutes he played in the last match was one for the best displays he had in two years.
“In the social life of the team, he is very important and I imagine Berardi is the person you ask what we should do.
“Sometimes I considered asking him, when I had doubts. Of course my job is make decisions and I had more doubt than certainty. More than once I had this feeling to take advice from him.”
Berardi’s future at Leeds is actually highly uncertain right now, with his contract due to expire in just a matter of weeks.
Berardi has played a role in helping Leeds into the Premier League, but he is now 31 and facing a long spell on the sidelines.
It is now questionable whether it would make financial sense for Leeds to offer him a long-term deal, even despite his popularity with the Elland Road crowd.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
