Marcelo Bielsa says everyone at Leeds United 'listens' to Gaetano Berardi as he reflected on the Swiss defender's new contract at Elland Road.
Berardi suffered a torn ACL during Leeds' dead-rubber win over Derby County following their Championship title success in July, but the club were quick to reward the loyalty shown by the 32-year-old since his arrival in Leeds back in 2014 by agreeing a new one-year deal with him last week.
The Swiss will now continue his rehabilitation at Thorp Arch as he looks to return from an injury that has ruled him out for between six-to-nine months, with Bielsa hailing his influence at the club.
"He is a reference to all of his team mates," said the Whites head coach ahead of Friday's trip to Aston Villa.
"His opinion is one that he changing room listens to and also the staff and when he is able to recover he will bring something to the team as he always does."
This comes after Angus Kinnear hinted that Berardi could be utilised in a coaching capacity during his lay-off.
“This week we welcomed Gaetano Berardi back to Thorp Arch," Kinnear penned in his programme notes ahead of Monday night's clash against Wolves.
"As supporters know, Gaetano cruelly tore his ACL at the end of last season contributing to our title-winning cause despite technically being out of contract.
“While we know Gaetano would have happily performed the operation himself - making the incision with a rusty stud key and stitching the wound with a discarded boot lace - the club had him treated at a state-of-the-art facility in Barcelona with the intention of extending his contract for another year.
“His return to the field is some way off, but the value he adds off the pitch is just as great as that on it and Marcelo has the intention of using his experience and passion in a coaching capacity as he recuperates.”
