Gaetano Berardi opens up on Marcelo Bielsa's approach to Leeds United's defensive work

GAETANO BERARDI has hailed the meticulous work of head coach Marcelo Bielsa for improving Leeds United’s defence.
DIGGING IN: Defender Gaetano Berardi helps Leeds United to one of their 12 clean sheets so far this season in the recent victory at Luton Town. Photo by Bruce Rollinson.DIGGING IN: Defender Gaetano Berardi helps Leeds United to one of their 12 clean sheets so far this season in the recent victory at Luton Town. Photo by Bruce Rollinson.
DIGGING IN: Defender Gaetano Berardi helps Leeds United to one of their 12 clean sheets so far this season in the recent victory at Luton Town. Photo by Bruce Rollinson.

Berardi excelled at centre-back in Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at home to Hull City as United kept their fourth clean sheet in succession and 12th of the Championship campaign so far.

Leeds, who have not conceded in nearly seven hours of football, have leaked only 10 goals in 21 league games and Berardi says Bielsa is sending out the Whites drilled perfectly to keep out each opponent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We train hard every day,” said Berardi, asked how much of the brilliant defensive record was down to Bielsa.

“He is trying to give us a lot of information on the other teams and we are doing sessions that help us to improve every day.

“He is doing great and you can see the results.”

Berardi has played the full duration of both of United’s last two Championship encounters with the 31-year-old former Switzerland international proving an extremely able deputy for injured captain Liam Cooper.

Brighton loanee Ben White, meanwhile, has played every single minute of every single league game for Leeds so far this term, earning rave reviews in the process.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Berardi has been among those highly impressed with the 22-year-old defender who, in the eyes of Berardi, will get even better.

“He’s doing great,” said Berardi.

“Everybody could see from the first game that he is doing well.

“He can also improve so he needs to be focused and we are helping him and he is helping us.”

White and Berardi formed the centre-back axis for Tuesday’s win at home to Hull in which United were left indebted to goalkeeper, Kiko Casilla, for making a brilliant save just seconds before United countered to score their second through Gjanni Alioski.

“It’s always good to have him in our back line with a lot of experience,” said Berardi of Casilla.

“He is helping us defend and helping the team all 90 minutes and it’s go