This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
To suggest Gaetano Berardi was under pressure at Leeds would be an understatement.
Following his eighth red card since arriving from Sampdoria in 2014, one that for him was fortunately overturned, he bounced back in brilliant fashion against Birmingham.
Talk about his future at Elland Road has been lingering over him for the last two weeks. Will a new contract will be given to him? Supporters certainly hope not.
That being said, his outing against Birmingham and the almighty presence of Lukas Jutkiewicz on Saturday did enough to swat away the doubters for the time being.
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Berardi should be on his final warning at Leeds now. There have simply been too many red cards and moments of ill-discipline in his time in west Yorkshire but he passed his first strike under Marcelo Bielsa with flying colours.
He not only looked composed and comfortable but also relaxed on the ball. Is this really Berardi we’re talking about? It almost seems hard to believe.
What benefitted Berardi greatly this weekend was the fact he was playing in a three-man defence composed of the Swiss, Ben White and Luke Ayling.
We’ve documented in the past how he’s more suited to that system and giving him cover certainly enabled for a more comfortable afternoon for Leeds as they secured a clean sheet.
It feels out of place to suggest Berardi was one of the difference-makers on the club’s centenary but it would be harsh to claim otherwise.
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Coming up against the 6 foot 1 frame of Jutkiewicz, he won four aerial duels throughout the game and also committed just one foul. Not only that, but the 31-year-old also came away victorious from two challenges, via WhoScored.
Playing at left centre-back in a three-man defence looks to suit the defender far more than in a two. This could be because he’s playing closer to the more natural left-back role he’s occupied at other times in his career.
He was given a platform to thrive and after droves of criticism in recent weeks, the central defender proved he does have what it takes.
The challenge for Berardi now is whether he can establish consistency. If he is indeed on a final warning in terms of earning a new contract, he’ll have to produce performances like this on a regular basis.
That’s certainly easier said than done for such an error-prone individual.