Pontus Jansson lifts lid on disputes with Marcelo Bielsa and lasting Leeds United feelings

PONTUS Jansson has opened up on his disputes with Marcelo Bielsa but a love for Leeds United that he says will last forever.
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Jansson ended three years with the Whites when being sold to Brentford in July 2019 at the end of head coach Bielsa's first year in charge.

Speaking with Swedish outlet fotbollskanalen, Jansson admitted there had been disputes between himself and Bielsa - including after the heated 1-1 draw against Aston Villa - but that his time at Leeds will always have a lasting effect.

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Jansson went against Bielsa's orders in the draw against Villa of April 2019 when attempting to prevent Dean Smith's side from scoring a walked in equaliser after Mateusz Klich had put the Whites in front by playing on when Jonathan Kodjia was down injured.

FLASHPOINT: Pontus Jansson, right, with Gaetano Berardi during the heated 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Elland Road of April 2019. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.FLASHPOINT: Pontus Jansson, right, with Gaetano Berardi during the heated 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Elland Road of April 2019. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
FLASHPOINT: Pontus Jansson, right, with Gaetano Berardi during the heated 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Elland Road of April 2019. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.

But asked about the Villa game and any disputes with Bielsa, Jansson said: "That case was probably the smallest problem.

"We talked there the next day, he often talks to the whole group if something happens.

"He said that he 100 percent understood why I did as I did, but that I should keep in mind that you should always listen to your coach.

"It was not much more than that.

"It was pretty chill, to be honest.

"But we had other disputes.

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"It feels like there was so much going on during that year with Bielsa that you almost forgot about it.

"When it was at its worst between us was when I was at a national team gathering and more or less told how it was with Bielsa, the picture everyone has with very hard and intense both in terms of training and matches - that we trained hard and that it was clear that we would do it, which meant that you could sometimes get tired of matches.

"I said that in some mixed zone or something."

Asked about the hurt he felt in being sold by the Whites, Jansson said: "To be completely honest, I miss Leeds and love Leeds, but I'm in a place in life where I'm incredibly happy with where I am now in my new club and how much I appreciate being here.

"But it is clear that I miss Leeds, my teammates and the club.

"You who follow them know that it was something special.

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"I will love Leeds for the rest of my life and follow them.

"I have a pretty close relationship with many of the players, I still often talk to Andrea… "

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