The Swiss full-back returned to the Leeds United starting line-up this weekend but how did he perform?
Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn recalled Gaetano Berardi to his starting line-up for the match against Wigan Athletic.
The Swiss-born right-back had played for just a single minute in Leeds’ previous 10 Championship matches and he had made only 14 appearances all season.
But the absence of some of Leeds’ first-choice stars meant a return for Berardi, playing on the left rather than in his more familiar right-sided role.
Berardi’s disciplinary record this season has left something to be desired, with the 26-year-old missing five matches through suspension, but against Wigan he was aggressive but composed, using his talent in the right way and proving to be a good addition to Redfearn’s regularly changing back-line.
| Passing Accuracy | Accurate Crosses | Outfield Blocks | Tackles won | Dribbles | Effective Clearances | Interceptions Won | Duels Won | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaetano Berardi | 78% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 90 |
There were areas he needs to improve, not least the fact that he compared poorly with regular left-back Charlie Taylor in terms of dribbles and accurate crosses, with Berardi managing none of either.
But the returning Leeds player had a passing accuracy of 78 per cent while he also made 14 effective clearances and won an impressive eight interceptions.
Berardi also won five duels and his performance suggested Leeds have yet another viable option for the rest of the campaign.
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