Leeds United are staring relegation in the face, and it looks as though the dogfight could go right down to the wire.
Indeed, Leeds, Everton and Burnley are almost impossible to separate right now, and it’s hard to imagine that this will be completely settled before the final day.
Leeds, of course, face Brentford on the final day, and while that may be a nervy occasion for every United supporter, one man at the Brentford Community Stadium will surely have mixed feelings on the day.
Of course, we’re talking about Pontus Jansson.
The defender is currently the Brentford captain, but he’s made no secret about his affinity towards Leeds since leaving the club.
In fact, his manager, Thomas Frank, even admitted that Jansson is in love with Leeds ahead of their game earlier this season.
“I think he’s looking forward to it. He always praises Leeds massively, that was a fantastic time in his career to be there,” Frank said.
“I don’t know if it’s important, but I think he actually fell in love a couple of times in his life: in Malmo, of course, then Leeds and now Brentford, so I don’t know if he is speaking to his wife how he is going to explain that one.
“He’s a man that is capable of having a lot of love in him and I think that is fantastic. For him in some ways, it’s a special feeling to go on the pitch even more than the first time in the Championship because he wanted badly to get promoted with Leeds.”
Jansson himself has shared a similar sentiment since leaving Elland Road.
“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 at my new club and how appreciated I am there“, Jansson said. “But it is clear that I miss Leeds, my team-mates and the club,” The centre-back told Fotbollskanalen.
“You who follow them know that it was something special. 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 [Radrizzani].”
Just imagine the emotions he’ll be feeling on that final day. As a professional footballer you, of course, want to win every single game, but he’d know that a win would have catastrophic consequences on a club he loves dearly and some of his closest friends.
Jansson is in a very unenviable position, and he’ll surely be hoping that Leeds are safe by the time that final day comes around, but sadly, that isn’t looking very likely right now.
If Brentford beat Leeds to send them down on the final day, Jansson will surely have mixed feelings.
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