Leeds United have received permission from the EFL to resume contact training after their risk assessment was approved on Tuesday morning. A group of supporters have been responding to the news, which was reported by The Athletic’s Phil Hay on Twitter.
The EFL announced on Sunday that they hope for the Championship to resume from 20th June, more than three months after it was suspended due to the viral outbreak. The Whites are currently top of the division and are hoping to secure promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since they were relegated at the end of the 2003/04 season.
Here is how a sample of the Elland Road faithful have responded to the update provided by Hay.
Leeds carrying out risk assessments for full contact , other clubs whining about the season starting again!!!
— Barney V2 (@barney___21) June 2, 2020
Come on the boys ??
— Jake Edwards (@JakeEdwardss94) June 2, 2020
Full steam ahead…
— Daniel Lee (@DanielL78758830) June 2, 2020
Berardi will be over the moon at this.
— Tom (@Tommeh_7) June 2, 2020
Berardi will be excited ?
— MrCoulson (@MrCoulson2) June 2, 2020
Awesome news is that
— Armo (on loan at Leipzig) (@Jordan_Armo) June 2, 2020
That’s Berardi leaving bodies across the training pitch
— Al Barrie (@White_Rose_Al) June 2, 2020
Many of these fans have referred to defender Gaetano Berardi, who appears to be somewhat renowned for the way he relishes the physical side of the game. The Swiss is no stranger to a card, having been sent off a total of eight times for Leeds. Although his contract at Elland Road is due to expire at the end of June (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk), it is clear he is a popular figure amongst the supporters. The 31-year-old’s name continued to appear in the replies, with one fan sharing his concern regarding the possibility of him injuring one of his own teammates.
Worried after weeks of no contact Berardi will get carried away and injure someone
— Harry Pearson (@Harry_Leeds98) June 2, 2020
Would you like to see Berardi's stay at Leeds extended?
Yes
No
The resumption of contact training is another step towards the return of football and so we can understand why many appear excited by this latest update. As for Berardi, he has reportedly made it clear he hopes to finish his career in Italy. Given the fact he doesn’t start regularly under Marcelo Bielsa, in our view, it seems likely he will leave the club this summer.