Loads of Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media, after Bristol City boss Lee Johnson joked that he wanted to two-foot and hug Luke Ayling at the same time during last Saturday’s Championship encounter.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites commanded the match at Elland Road last weekend, leaving Johnson fretting on the sideline over how he could avoid his Robins side suffering a devastating drubbing in West Yorkshire.
A break in play allowed the Bristol City boss to call his players over the touchline midway through the first-half to dish out a new collection of instructions, though Ayling appeared to be in close proximity to the visitor’s technical area – much to Johnson’s frustration.
Johnson appeared to softly push Ayling away from his huddle to avoid any eavesdropping by the United right-back, who spent two years at Ashton Gate – including six-months under Johnson – before joining United for £750,000 in 2016.
A push was not the only thing Johnson considered, though.
“Part of me wanted to – with my player’s head on – tread on his toes, two-foot him, give him a cuddle and pinch him under the arms at the same time,” Johnson said, via quotes by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “But part of me also respected his sneaky nature, listening to what I had to say.
Should Johnson have been punished for his actions?
Yes
No
“Fortunately and it’s probably a bit of an example that none of the other lads spotted it and threw him out of the way, because that’s what I’d have done as a player. And therefore I had to do it with a gritted smile and I think it’s fair play from him and fair play from me – but I don’t know how it came across social media.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Johnson’s comments…
Angry little man
— Ashleigh (@ashlaurenn_) February 19, 2020
Rent free 💛💙
— shaun jennings (@shaunje28862694) February 20, 2020
So, he went on to the pitch and attacked a Leeds player. Imagine if the Leeds manager did that. £200,000 for standing on a public footpath !!!!!!
— geebo (@geebo87880019) February 19, 2020
Very big of him to admit it
— Vivek Mahesh (@Leedsviv) February 19, 2020
Doesn’t he ever stop. Obsession with our club. Sick and tired of him.
— Herbie Jassi (@herbie1178) February 19, 2020
‘Two foot’ or 2ft? @TheSquareBall
— Tom Hinchcliffe (@Tom_Hinchcliffe) February 19, 2020
I guess a headbutt would have been out of the question
— Tommo (@LUFC1992) February 19, 2020
How was he planning to pinch him under the arm? Stand on Bielsa’s bucket? 🤷♀️
— Jo Bedford 🐾 (@El_Loco_Jo) February 19, 2020
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit has claimed Bielsa has misused a £32.5k-p/w ace this season.