Pontus Jansson told Sky Sports that ‘a lot of Leeds fans were against’ him last season, but all of that has changed this time around as he earned promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
Last season, both Leeds and Brentford were pushing for the Premier League, with the former winning the league outright and Thomas Frank’s side losing the play-off final to Fulham.
But marshalled by one-time Leeds star, Jansson, at the back during yesterday’s final, the Bees stung Swansea pretty early and were 2-0 up inside 20 minutes.
That was enough for Brentford to book their place with the elite for the first time since the 1940s.
And after the game, Jansson had a message for the Leeds fans and how their feelings towards him changed this season.
“I think the difference to this year and last year is that last year I felt a lot of Leeds fans were against me,” said Jansson. “They didn’t wish me luck.
“But this year, so many Leeds fans have been with me and with Brentford. Only because they are already there and they wanted me to come and join them.
“I love Leeds. Brentford fans know I love Leeds. They are one of my favourite clubs, but of course, I love Brentford as much.”
During his days at Leeds, Jansson narrowly missed out on a top-seven finish under Garry Monk, before more heartbreak struck under Marcelo Bielsa.
That play-off defeat to Derby was to be Jansson’s final outing in Leeds colours before he surprisingly swapped Yorkshire for London.
Whilst Leeds went to put the wrongs of that Derby defeat right the following campaign, Jansson was dealt another play-off blow, but this time in the final and in Brentford colours.
But now, the Sweden international can rightly call himself a Premier League player, as he will prepare to face off against his former club next season.
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