'I got put with the 23s and thought oh dear' - Brighton's Ben White says fond farewell to life with Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United

Thoughts of what could have been, had Brighton decided to sell Ben White to the Whites, might forever linger for fans of the Elland Road club and maybe even the player himself.

His future, at least for now, lies at the Amex Stadium, however and all parties can now move on.

Truth be told Leeds moved on quickly, once the Seagulls made it obvious they could not be tempted to part with the defender, and a shiny new replacement in the form of two-cap German international Robin Koch arrived at Elland Road on Saturday.

It was still a nice touch for Brighton to ensure White had an opportunity to pay his respect to the club that gave him a 2019/20 season he will never forget, amid their media output surrounding his four-year deal.

Leeds fans, in turn, were given a chance to say a final farewell to a player who gave them some truly lovely moments of football and wish him well, in amongst the obligatory jokes about his captors treating him well.

It wasn’t an occasion for tears or an outpouring of grief, this was not the departure of a club legend, but a good footballer with a little piece of Leeds history in his pocket and a lot of love for Leeds still in his heart.

White wasn’t much of a talker, with the press, during his loan spell but when the subject of Leeds came up this week he couldn’t help but wax lyrical, even if expressing just how special an experience it was did not come easily.

“It’s hard to put into words how good last year was,” said the 22-year-old.

“Playing week-in, week-out in the Championship was amazing in a really strong team, which really helped how I want to play.

“It was a really good year, we finished as champions and got the club back into the Premier League, which is where they want to be.”

White had no Championship match minutes on his CV before he arrived in Yorkshire, but having excelled in League Two with Newport and impressed in League One with Peterborough, the expectation was that he was coming to Elland Road to play.

With Marcelo Bielsa in charge, it wasn’t quite as simple as that and White, like every other player, didn’t just have to prove he belonged in the starting line-up for the Championship opener at Bristol City, but in the first-team dressing room.

“When I arrived there I got put with the Under-23s, so I thought ‘oh dear,’ revealed White.

“The Friday before the first game against Bristol City, Marcelo Bielsa put me in the first-team changing room, so that was a relief.”

That first game was an eye-opener for Leeds fans who got to see just how cool, calm and collected White could be.

It was the first of many impressive performances, as he shut down opposition attacks with interceptions and put Leeds on the attack with silky dribbles out of defence.

He visibly grew into one of the division’s best defenders and credits Bielsa’s attention to minute detail for the progression that occurred between his arrival at Thorp Arch and his lifting of the Championship trophy.

“I learned so much from him,” said White.

“It was the detail in every aspect of the game that he put the work into.

“His coaching was all about details, the minor details, things like how the ball spins when you pass it, how you’re passing it, why you’re passing it.”

Bielsa’s tuition, a close friendship that blossomed between White and Kalvin Phillips and winning lots of games made for a fun time in the north of England. It was soundtracked, at least until COVID-19 had its way, by tens of thousands of Leeds fans and their music will ring on in White’s ears.

He hopes the full band will be allowed to get back together for a January 16 Premier League reunion at Elland Road and that the songs sung will be kind to him.

“I also want to thank the Leeds supporters, they were unbelievable every single week, even when they weren’t allowed to be there. They were very good to me, and were always really supportive to me and the rest of the team – and the club will always be special to me.

“I hope the fans will be allowed back by the time we play there, and I just hope that I will get a good reception when we go back.”