Leeds put in another solid performance tonight and kept up Marcelo Bielsa’s 100% record with a 2-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup tonight.
Bielsa made eight changes but you wouldn’t have known it as players like Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison impressed on their first starts for Leeds.
However, fans weren’t impressed with Pontus Jansson, also making his first start since returning from his summer exploits with Sweden at the World Cup.
He looked rusty and off the pace and fans were quick to criticise, despite another fine win, with one fan saying he was a “liability”.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans to their talismanic defender:
https://twitter.com/LUFCLDP1989/status/1029460487174533120
Only criticism first half, Jansson looks a bit rusty. Given the ball away a couple of times. #lufc
— Chaz. (@chaz_coleman) August 14, 2018
Saiz remains the hosts’ best player when his head is in the right place. Shackleton has done solidly. Jansson looks rusty. Harrison trying hard to impress, but it hasn’t quite fallen for him yet https://t.co/rWhxktq7hR #lufc
— LEEDS UNITED MAD ? (@LeedsUnited_MAD) August 14, 2018
First game and all that but Jansson looks more suspect that Cooper has last two games. #lufc
— Rhys Hughes (@RhysHughes) August 14, 2018
Jansson won't be making the first 11 for a while on this showing. Very sloppy so far. #lufc
— MaltaWhite (@carl_bulger) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/stevie_lufc/status/1029447301713076224
Jansson is way off the pace #LUFC
— Leeds Fan in Chicago (@ChicagoWhite) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/ForPetesSakeDad/status/1029448866268160000
Sloppy defending. Jansson not going much to earn a place for Saturday
— LUFC Worldwide ?? (@LUFC_WorldWide) August 14, 2018
Only complaint so far is that it's clear Jansson is still a bit off in terms of training for this style of play
— mish (@mishLUFC) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/LeedsMad2012/status/1029452425592270849
OPINION
Pontus Jansson came in for some criticism tonight from the Leeds fans and it was deserved. He did look off the pace and rusty but that’s to be expected after the World Cup. This was his first start and he’ll get to grips with playing the Bielsa way as he picks up fitness. It’s true that some players take longer than others to recover from playing in a major tournament. Tottenham welcomed everyone back to their team for Saturday’s game except for Kieran Tripper who didn’t even make the squad. That’s just how it is and we’re sure that Jansson will soon be back to his best and when he is he should be a regular starter for Bielsa.