Leeds supporters have been reacting to Pontus Jansson joining Brentford in their hoards, and some have now taken to Reddit after prominent Whites pundit Danny Mills told Football Insider that the Sweden centre-back was sold due to Marcelo Bielsa refusing to sanction extra time off.
It was already widely reported that the relationship between Jansson and Bielsa was fractured during the 2018/19 Championship season, with some speculating that his actions in the draw at home to Aston Villa was considered the final straw, as he acted against the boss’ wishes to allow the Birmingham-based side to equalise.
The United first-team then departed for their summer break not long after, but Jansson was not with the bulk when they returned to Thorp Arch at the end of June given he followed his domestic duties with international action with Sweden.
It soon emerged that he had been instructed by Whites chiefs to stay away from the club’s facilities and was training with Malmo, but Mills claims sources from within Elland Road have told our former right-back that Jansson’s request for special treatment was the last Bielsa act could take.
“The reason he fell out with Leeds was because he wanted extra time off after the summer internationals,” Mills claimed. “He kept asking Bielsa, and Bielsa kept saying ‘no’.
“It came to the point where Bielsa said, ‘that’s enough’. Jansson wanted special treatment, and Bielsa wasn’t willing to give it to him. He has a firm plan for the direction the team is going and was not willing to change that.
“All of the other players, including those who played end-of-season internationals, were happy to come back. Jansson felt he deserved more time off. That was the final straw for Bielsa.”
“You are a Championship player, and the season starts in four weeks,” he added. “Get yourself back in training, that’s your job, and it is the way it is. You can have all the holidays you want when you retire.
“Last year, Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier had ten days off after the World Cup. Trent Alexander-Arnold played in the Champions League final on June 1, and then for England, and he’s back in pre-season training. That’s the price of success sometimes.”
Here’s how these Leeds fans reacted when Mill’s comments were shared on Reddit…