Former Leeds player Pontus Jansson could be in line for an interesting reaction when he takes to the pitch at Elland Road tonight.
Jansson was a hugely popular player with the fans before his summer move to Brentford, who Leeds host tonight in the Championship.
Jansson moved amid claims that he was becoming a disruptive influence behind the scenes at Leeds, although manager Marcelo Bielsa paid him a lot of respect in his pre-match press conference.
Bielsa said Jansson was Leeds’ best player last season and that he believed the fans would give him a fair reaction that acknowledged his contribution to the club.
However, that might not be the case and fans seem split over what to do.
There are still plenty of Jansson supporters and one said he hoped the fans give Jansson “the credit and respect he deserves”. Another said it would be like seeing his ex-girlfriend “with a new lad”.
https://twitter.com/DBauer191/status/1164131714911879170
Tonight is the night!!! I hope we give jansson the credit and respect he deserves. Plus Beat him and get the 3 points obviously!!! ?? #MOT #LUFC #ALAW ??
— King Pablo 'El Mago'???? #ALAW #MOT (@PabloH1919) August 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/TotalWhitewash/status/1163922975659384835
However, the majority of the fans are either sick of Jansson being the focus of attention or seemingly ready to treat him like a traitor.
One said he’d been sold under his market value to get him out of the club quickly. He said Jansson had shown “the biggest amount of disrespect possible to his team and manager… He’s burnt his bridges and cost us millions”.
All I'm seeing is Pontus Jansson this and Pontus Jansson that.. Tonight isn't about him it's about Leeds United & getting behind the team #lufc #mot
— Ryan (@LeedsUtdRyan) August 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/TSSALUFC/status/1164110938330546176
Too much talk about Jansson surrounding tonight’s game (shock horror). Why can our fan base not just focus on the 11 players that go out and play? Bugger anybody else and what they are doing & who they have, just concentrate on our own ffs…#lufc
— The Bill (@Billylumsden10) August 21, 2019
Pontus Jansson was sold under value in a flash sale to move him on ASAP because he went against the manager. He showed the biggest amount of disrespect possible to his team and manager. Why all the love for him all of a sudden? He’s burnt his bridges and lost us millions ???? #lufc
— C Bielsa 007 ???? (@BielsasLB) August 21, 2019
Can we not make tonight about Pontus Jansson please? #LUFC
— ?? (@LeedsCARAJO) August 21, 2019
Why can I see a Pontus Jansson bullet header incoming….#lufc
— Luke Barton (@LDJB89) August 21, 2019
One fan summed things up, saying he’d had a sleepless night trying to work out if Jansson would get a good reception or not. On the basis of this evidence, we’d say it could be a really mixed one.
https://twitter.com/M4rtyFunkhouser/status/1163874671688896512