Gaetano Berardi grateful for Leeds United's support after thoughts of 'going away and not coming back'

Instead, for several weeks, the hard man Leeds United defender was unable to enjoy anything; even when relaxing at home.

One very fresh and hugely regrettable incident continually played through his mind with Berardi’s season ending in disaster with a red card following a second yellow in May’s play-offs semi-final second leg defeat to Derby County at Elland Road.

Quite whether Leeds would have booked their place in a Wembley play-off final had Berardi stayed on the field will never be known but 12 minutes after his dismissal, United’s season was over too.

With a whole summer to contemplate matters, Berardi knew there had to be a change after what was the seventh red card of his Leeds United career.

When an eighth Whites red card arrived just 11 games into the new season at Millwall, Berardi was at his wits end and contemplating whether this time it was THE end for him individually.

Yet Leeds stuck by their man with United’s former Swiss international defender bouncing back in style this term buoyed, he says, by the support of his club and their loyal fans.

Speaking as part of Leeds United’s latest ‘Ask’ series in association with Deliveroo, Berardi was asked about his most difficult moment at the club since joining from Sampdoria in July 2014 and admitted: “That’s easy. It was after the play-off game against Derby.

“It was really difficult for everyone, but if I have to say about me, it was really hard to take.

“It was the first time I had felt like this. I spent many weeks thinking about that.

“I couldn’t enjoy any moments, even if I was at home. But that’s part of football, I was already thinking that I had to change it and I had to move on.”

But then came the red card 14 minutes in at Millwall - with Berardi adjudged to have fouled Tom Bradshaw in the penalty area despite minimal contact and with Kalvin Phillips also acting as a covering defender.

Berardi saw red for a professional foul.

“I couldn’t believe it,” admitted the 31-year-old defender.

“That day was not easy. My first reaction was in the changing room, I was alone and I was just thinking ‘If I have to accept this, maybe I need to go away and not come back’.

“After a few days, I started to realise that the club was working towards getting it rescinded and helping me, so when it was finally taken away I was happy about that.”

United appealed the decision and referee James Linington’s decision was overturned, sparing Berardi another suspension.

The damage was done as far as the clash at The Den was concerned with United battling on with ten men but ultimately falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Yet eighth months on, Berardi’s Whites are within touching distance of finally granting Leeds United Premier League football for the first time since 2004.

Championship front-runners Leeds are in their 16th season outside of the top flight and Berardi - who is now United’s current longest serving player - has been around for the last six of them.

“When I first arrived, I didn’t know much about the league,” said Berardi, whose current Whites deal is up this summer.

“I knew about the Championship but I didn’t know exactly what it was like.

“I quickly realised that it was a hard league and that I would have to start from the beginning, to fight for a place in the team, which was not easy.

“The feeling was not so nice at the beginning because I knew straight away that it was going to be a really hard challenge, but after a few months I said ‘okay, let’s start’, so I fought for my place and did what I had to do for the team.”

And despite seven red cards, those efforts for the team have not gone unnoticed with few players as popular with United’s fan-base as Berardi who says he is extremely grateful for such support.

“When I remember the nice things that I read, the nice messages that I receive, it’s a really good feeling,” said the defender.

“Of course there might be people that don’t like me but it’s a good feeling when I remember the people that like what I do and most importantly, those who respect me.

"It helps me in a really good way, so I will always be thankful for this, especially after times like the Derby game.

"Many people were on my side during that tough time and it was nice to have, even if I was suffering.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777