Gaetano Berardi’s superb display in Leeds draw perfectly timed

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Gaetano Berardi has been one of Leeds United’s best performers at the start of this season in the Championship.

If Leeds fans had been told before the season began that Gaetano Berardi was set to be one of Marcelo Bielsa’s first choice centre-backs during the opening weeks, the supporters would have been forgiven for feeling slightly fearful regarding how well the Whites would have begun the campaign.

Berardi is an Elland Road hero and undoubtedly one of the most popular players amongst fans and players alike. Nevertheless, he has never quite been able to establish himself in one position in the side, adopting more of an understudy role for either full-back spot.

So the idea of making him one of the side’s first choice options in the middle of the back four appeared to be a major gamble from Bielsa. But after Friday’s draw with Middlesbrough that leaves Leeds at the top of the Championship heading into the international break, the faith shown in Berardi appears to have the potential to be another masterstroke from Bielsa.

Berardi was a colossus against Boro. Tony Pulis’ side should have probably won when you consider the number of set-pieces they won and the height difference between some of their players and a Leeds side that did not get Pontus Jansson onto the field until the final couple of moments.

But, the Whites kept them at bay, and Berardi’s tenacity was a key reason why Bailey Peacock-Farrell did not have to pick the ball out of his net at any stage.

And given how the night ended for the defender, it could certainly be argued that his fantastic performance was possibly essential.

Berardi picked up an injury with minutes to go and ended up leaving the ground on crutches. It is not clear how long the 30-year-old may be out for, but it does perhaps open a door for Jansson if it proves to be a significant injury.

But given Berardi’s display against Boro, it is perhaps fair to say that no matter how well Liam Cooper and Jansson do – if they do get a chance alongside each other – Berardi has staked a claim to Bielsa to get the chance to return as soon as he is fit.

It is probably not a position that many Leeds fans expected to be in before the season began, but they are largely now keeping everything crossed that Berardi’s injury is not serious so he can soon return to the heart of the Whites defence.