Leeds are down under for a pre-season tour of Australia, but before the ball rolls against Manchester United in a friendly at the Optus Stadium on Wednesday, fans have been getting the chance to meet Gaetano Berardi, Jack Harrison, Mateusz Bogusz and Adam Forshaw.
The quartet of Whites stars were in attendance at a fan event held at the Optus Store on Murray Street in Perth on Tuesday, and parts of the Oz contingent of the Elland Road faithful were queuing up out the door for their chance to meet one of the men who helped push United into automatic promotion contention last season.
Only Mateusz Klich, Ezgjan Alioski, Kalvin Phillips, Pablo Hernandez and Luke Ayling featured in more second-tier fixtures than Harrison during his first season on loan with Leeds, as he struck four goals and was credited with three assists in his 39 appearances.
Berardi, meanwhile, made 15 outings across the Whites backline during the 2018/19 season, while Forshaw took to the field 31 times, starting 20 of his appearances.
Bogusz, on the other hand, was not a part of Bielsa’s plans as we clinched a Play-Off spot, as he spent the second half of the season with Carlos Corberan’s Under 23s, having joined United in the winter from Polish outfit Ruch Chorzow.
As well as holding a signing session at the Optus Store, the club opened the doors to the HBF Park on Tuesday afternoon for an open training session, giving supporters a rare opportunity to watch Marcelo Bielsa put the first-team through their paces first-hand.
When the official Leeds Twitter account shared a clip showing the length of the queue heading out of the Optus Store, though, this is how these fans reacted…
Love this Club, pity about the owner!
— Radrizzani OUT!! (@RMcgoran) July 16, 2019
Now that’s a queue! ????????
— Tony Dorigo (@tonydorigo) July 16, 2019
What a football club ????
— John T 1919 ???????? (@JohnMjt) July 16, 2019
We are a cult !
— Mike Powell ???????? (@Mike55Powell) July 16, 2019
There’s that much cash that goes into #lufc on merchandise sold alone yet we still haven’t replaced Pontus.
— Pete’s Leeds???? ???????????????? (@BadgeSmiley) July 16, 2019
Take note when it comes to investment & sustaining momentum, ala last season from Jan and failure to build on excellent 1st 1/2 ssn and now we are a few quality players short. The fan base for this club is far, far reaching, to see this for a Championship club is phenomenal ????
— Al Davies (@TheXdSwords) July 16, 2019
Always be famous. Just not that good any more
— David Nicoll (@DavidNi91505740) July 16, 2019
Proud of my mob pulling such a crowd in the home town of @DanielGarb! Now time to return to the top tier. Thoughts @Rods_knees?
— David Blusztein (@bomberbluey) July 16, 2019
Unreal unreal fans best in the world ???? MOT
— fredchapman46 (@fredchapman46) July 16, 2019
Famous or not! We are Leeds MOT is known worldwide
— Carl Ince (@CarlInce6) July 16, 2019
Blimey.
It’s a bigger queue than Graveleys chippy gets on a match day ????????????— Paul Spink (@PaulSpink1) July 16, 2019