Noel Whelan has blasted Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson, urging the club to “get rid” of him this summer.
The 28-year-old has made 41 appearances for United in all competitions this season, but Whelan has been less than impressed with his contribution.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Get good money for him and get rid, Jansson is selfish and not as good as he thinks.
“There have been too many mistakes made by Pontus Jansson, too many times he has gone missing.
“He is not a talker out there, he is not a leader. Too many games I’ve seen him walk off in a huff. When you walk off and sit outside on your own after the match, that shows it’s all about you and for show.
“If you want to mope, do it at home in your own living room and not where you can be seen and people can judge you.”
OPINION
Strong words from Whelan here, and you would be hard pushed to find too many Leeds fans willing to agree with him on this one. Jansson is a firm favourite at Elland Road, and has established himself as one of the key members of Marcelo Bielsa’s side. You can, however, understand where Whelan is coming from. The Swede sometimes lets his heart rule his head, and there have been a few occasions this season where his attitude or concentration have let him down. In many ways, that’s all part of who he is though. Supporters know that he is a maverick, and it’s one of the reasons they love him so much. Jansson is a Premier League defender on his day, no question about it, so where is the logic in selling him on as you continue to try and reach the Premier League? Whelan is right insofar that Jansson could improve on his attitude, but selling him would be a case of cutting your nose off to spite your face.