By Mark Smith

18th Dec, 2019 | 3:00pm

'Collective confidence' - Kinnear claims fans no longer panic over Leeds duo

Leeds United may have learned from the playoffs last season, but the memories will remain at the back of everyone’s minds.

The Whites somehow lost a two-goal lead to Derby County in the semi-finals. It was down to individual mistakes from Gaetano Berardi and Kiko Casilla.

Berardi was sent off for two clumsy challenges, whereas everyone remembers the mistake made by Casilla which started the comeback.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have put that behind them to start this season stronger, but some may still feel nervous watching the Whites spray the ball around.

Leeds Chief Executive Angus Kinnear recently commented on the style of football at Elland Road, claiming that fans are much more confident watching our side play out from the back.

“The days of 35,000 supporters panicking as Kiko Casilla and Gaetano Berardi roll the ball to each other across the six-yard box are over and now there is a collective confidence that it could be the start of a 10-second counter-attack leading to a goal,” he said via Leeds Live.

It takes a large amount of bravery to stick to your style no matter how much pressure you’re under. Having said that, Leeds have been excellent at doing just that and we have reaped the benefits of that.

Kinnear is definitely on the right lines. Look at Casilla and Berardi for examples, the Spaniard has transformed this season – playing a vital role in Leeds having one of the strongest defence records in Europe.

Berardi has been on the bench for the majority of the season. With Liam Cooper injured recently though, the Swiss enforcer has stepped up massively in wins over Hull and Huddersfield.

Having strength in depth is key to any promotion bid in the Championship, and Kinnear’s comments could suggest that he believes Leeds already have the players available to them to do just that.

In other Leeds United news, 28-goal forward linked with Leeds move posts teasing Instagram story