Pontus Jansson shares honest thoughts on Leeds parting ways with ‘fantastic’ Marcelo Bielsa

Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Pontus Jansson thinks Leeds were right to axe Marcelo Bielsa even as they face a final-day fight to stay in the Premier League.

The final day of the Premier League season is here and the nerves of Leeds fans are probably shredded.

Leeds occupy the final relegation spot heading into the last game of the season.

Leeds do sit level on points with Burnley but have a much, much worse goal difference.

The Whites therefore need to try and better Burnley’s result with Leeds no doubt hoping for a favour from Newcastle United.

Leeds need to do their own job though and that’s to beat Brentford – which will be no easy task.

The Bees have won seven of their last 10 games and showed no mercy against a relegation-battling side in Everton last weekend.

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This game also means another reunion with defender Jansson.

The Swede was a Leeds fan favourite after a 2016 move from Malmo but was sold to Brentford in 2019.

Jansson has impressed in the Premier League this term and could now play a key role in relegating Leeds.

Jansson was sold just months after a memorable argument with then-Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.

Mateusz Klich’s controversial goal – with Jonathan Kodjia injured and Tyler Roberts motioning to kick the ball out of play before then passing to Klich – against Villa sparked a fracas at Elland Road.

Bielsa instructed his players to allow Villa to score with Jansson seemingly unhappy with that decision, even attempting to stop Albert Adomah from equalising.

Leeds fans will remember that decision for a long time to come and it threatened to leave an unwanted tinge on his Elland Road career.

As Jansson prepares to face Leeds again today, he has offered his view on Bielsa’s recent exit.

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Jansson has told The Sun that he has ‘mixed’ feeling about Bielsa’s departure, believing that he is a ‘fantastic’ manager.

Jansson does though feel that Leeds and Bielsa ‘came to an end’ with each other and it was time for change.

The Swede added that he thinks replacement Jesse Marsch is similar to Brentford boss Thomas Frank in terms of valuing man-management more than Bielsa did.

“Mixed. I think it was the right decision because they were running to an end,” said Jansson. “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. 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,” he added.

We will never know if Bielsa would have dragged Leeds out of trouble, but it’s now over to Marsch this afternoon.

Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport via Getty Images

In other news, Tarkowski shares why he thinks Burnley will beat Leeds in race for survival