PONTUS JANSSON will be “sad” if he and Brentford end up relegating Leeds but accepts they might have to do it.
The Elland Road cult hero was booted out by Marcelo Bielsa in the summer of 2019 and ended up signing for the Bees for £5.5million.
Pontus Jansson knows he could help send Leeds back into the ChampionshipCredit: AlamyJansson was popular at Elland Road before being booted out by Marcelo BielsaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
A 12-word tweet announced his exit: “Swedish defender Pontus Jansson has today left Leeds United to join Brentford.”
No frills, no explanation and no affectionate goodbye for a player who gave his heart and soul for three years.
Leeds went on to dazzle under Bielsa in their first top-flight season in 16 years, finishing ninth.
But now in the ultimate plot twist, Jansson could inflict the fatal blow on his old side’s hopes of staying up when Brentford host them tomorrow.
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The Swedish centre-back, 31, said: “Last year, when they had a fantastic season in the Premier League, of course I was happy for them.
“But at the same time I was in the Championship injured, feeling sorry for myself, and I wanted to be there with them playing, experiencing the Premier League.
“Now we are both here. I remember I looked at the fixture programme when it came out and I saw Leeds on the last day.
“I could see some nightmares around it. On the last day, we have to win.
“We want to win so if that costs them a spot in the Premier League, of course it’s going to be a sad day — but Brentford is my team now.”
Leeds’ current situation would have been even worse had Pascal Struijk not struck a late equaliser against Brighton at Elland Road to temporarily lift them out of the bottom three.
Now they are back in the relegation zone and their fate is out of their hands.
If Burnley match their result the Clarets will be safe due to a vastly superior goal difference.
The Bees were surely already safe from relegation when they hit 43 points — but that was confirmed last week when Leeds lost to Chelsea.
Jansson added: “Thank god we are mathematically safe because if not it was going to be a hard day.
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“Now we want to end as high as possible and we can get more points. The best-case scenario is that we both stay up.
“All of my former team-mates are still there so we talk to each other a lot.
“When we played them at Leeds it was 2-2 and I said to my old team-mates I hope on the last game we are both safe and none of us have to fight relegation.”
The relationship between Jansson and Bielsa was a fraught one.
Jansson respected the popular Argentine’s reputation across the globe and his legacy at Leeds but found his detached personality difficult.
Bielsa, in turn, appreciated the Swede’s defensive brain and rated the centre-back as “our best player in the Championship” but did not seem keen on his attitude despite his contribution to their promotion to the Premier League.
So the warmth of Thomas Frank and his “no d***heads” policy at Brentford was a welcome sight for the defender.
When asked what his reaction to Bielsa leaving Leeds in February, ex-Malmo and Torino star Jansson said: “Mixed. I think it was the right decision because they were running to an end.
“I respect Bielsa. He is a fantastic manager but I think they came to an end with each other.
“Jesse Marsch is a similar coach to Thomas in terms of man-management.
I prefer Thomas, he listens to his players in a different way from Bielsa
Pontus Jansson
“Bielsa has his own way, that’s what it is. He doesn’t want to change.
“In one way you have to respect that. He has been one of the most respected coaches in the world.
“The best coaches have Bielsa as their idol but for me I believe more in man-management than Bielsa did.
“He wanted the best for me, the team, and my personal development but Thomas is much more open.
“He listens to his players in a different way than Bielsa so I prefer Thomas.”
Jansson insisted he did not leave Leeds in 2019 because he ignored Bielsa’s decision to let Aston Villa score in the infamous game at Elland Road that April.
He publicly defied Bielsa when the boss ordered his players to let Villa cancel out Leeds’ controversial goal by trying to tackle Albert Adomah as he walked the ball into the net.
The sometimes impetuous Swede was sold to Brentford two months later.
He says he is now less of a hot head since becoming a father to two girls.
He added: “My wife had our second baby seven weeks ago.
‘COOL AND CALM’
“I used to have an aggressive character but since I’ve become a father to two girls something happened to me in a positive way. I got more cool and calm. Think more before I act.”
The 11th-placed Bees are just two points off Brighton in tenth ahead of tomorrow’s final game.
Christian Eriksen’s deadline-day arrival in January was a huge catalyst for the club’s red-hot run after a winless run of nine, including eight losses.
They have only lost one of the nine games which the ex-Spurs midfielder has started in.
And Jansson jokes he has been convincing the Denmark star, whose deal expires in the summer, to stay over early breakfasts.
He added: “We have a Scandinavian gang who have breakfast together every morning and normally we have it at 9:15am but I’m always the first at 8:30am.
“Eriksen comes in around 8:45am and we get him on our table and convince him to stay. He has salmon. I can’t stand it in the morning.
“I talk to him for one minute then leave the room! I have eggs and so on. He’s a fantastic guy.
