Liam Cooper has revealed the best player that he’s played alongside at Leeds United .
The club captain was speaking at a Q&A event with the fans last week, and was asked to pick out one outstanding name from his five years at Elland Road. His choice wasn’t a surprising one - Pablo Hernandez.
The 34-year-old Spaniard first joined Leeds two years after Cooper, and immediately became a key figure as the club pushed for the top six in the 2016-17 campaign, narrowly missing out on the play-offs with Garry Monk in charge.
“The best player I’ve played with at Leeds is Pablo,” he said.
“We get to see him every day, we get the joy of seeing him every single day and he doesn’t just do it in games, he does it in training as well.
'He’s a man of few words, but he sets unbelievable examples'
“He works hard, I think for any person who’s wanting to watch an example I think Pablo would be it, the way he applies himself.
“He’s a man of few words, but he sets unbelievable examples, he sees things that only Pablo can see, but yes, definitely I’d say Pablo.”
Hernandez has often been Leeds United’s most creative player in recent years, and something of a talisman as the team have become automatic promotion contenders under Marcelo Bielsa.
But he was out of action for six weeks after suffering a calf injury in September, but has returned to make late cameo appearances off the bench in each of Leeds’ last two Championship outings.
The former Valencia and Swansea midfielder will surely be pushing for a place back in the starting eleven when the season resumes following the international break, such is his importance to the team.
But he’s not the most dedicated trainer at the club, according to Cooper, who namechecked one of his fellow defenders instead.
“I’d probably say Bera [Gaetano Berardi],” Cooper responded, when asked who the best trainer is.
“Bera always trains really well. He’s full tilt, obviously some players don’t train very well then turn it up on match day but I’d definitely say Bera, the way he applies himself.
“He doesn’t pull out of anything in training I wouldn’t like to be a striker around him in a training session.”
Visit our dedicated Leeds United page for the latest news, views and analysis from Elland Road.
