Leeds United fans reacted with surprise after Thomas Christiansen omitted a fit and available Pontus Jansson from the squad in Saturday’s 3-2 win against Ipswich.
Eyebrows were raised when the line-up was announced an hour before kick-off and Jansson’s name was absent after Christiansen had claimed at his Friday briefing that the defender had recovered from the knock he sustained in last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Millwall.
However Christiansen surprisingly made it clear that there was no fitness issue for the talismanic Swede, suggesting that it was simply a tactical decision to omit him from the squad.
“He’s fit but I decided to leave him out,” said the Elland Road manager, as quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay on his personal Twitter account after the game.
Jansson was fit and available today. Christiansen: "He's fit but I decided to leave him out." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) September 23, 2017
Fit-again skipper Liam Cooper and Conor Shaughnessy, 21, lined up in the heart of the Leeds defence and the team conceded two goals in a closely fought encounter.
The last time Leeds conceded two goals in the Championship came in the opening day of the season when they beat Bolton 3-2 in the league, and on that occasion Jansson wasn’t in the squad due to suspension.
Two goals were also conceded in the midweek penalty shoot-out win over Burnley in the League Cup, a game that the Sweden international also missed.
Leeds fans were left scratching their heads at Jansson’s omission, although a few pointed out that he should be in fine fettle for Tuesday’s Championship trip to third-placed Cardiff City.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
Weird one that
— Daniel Cullen (@Dannycullen1994) September 23, 2017
Wow
— charlie (@CharlieEllzz) September 23, 2017
Hopefully doesn’t make that mistake again
— Matthew Armstrong (@matarmstrong) September 23, 2017
He’s TC he does what he likes pic.twitter.com/rRnbfj8Gtk
— James Howson (@BigJimmy_V) September 23, 2017
There is a reason why we seem to hemorrhage goals when he’s not playing – he makes us BETTER
— T.Y (@NOHSPUT) September 23, 2017
Keeping him fresh for Tuesday obvs. Vital he stays fit for the majority of the season.
— Jonathan Jones (@JonathanLJones6) September 23, 2017
Missed him massively, 2 CB’s & GK were a train wreck,no organisation at all, I panicked every time we had ball at back, pissing about #lufc
— Gary (@GazzaF83) September 23, 2017