Leeds United’s Pontus Jansson expects ‘high intensity’ duels with Derby County

LEEDS UNITED defender Pontus Jansson admits there will be no love lost between the two teams when tomorrow’s play-off semi-final gets under way against Derby County.
Leeds United's Pontus Jansson is a slight doubt with an ankle problem (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).Leeds United's Pontus Jansson is a slight doubt with an ankle problem (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).
Leeds United's Pontus Jansson is a slight doubt with an ankle problem (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire).

The Elland Road club head to Pride Park for the tea-time clash having completed a league double over the Rams, head coach Marcelo Bielsa’s side scoring six goals in the process.

Those two victories, however, are not why the upcoming two legs are causing such a stir way beyond the two sets of supporters.

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‘Spygate’ has been arguably the story of the season in the Football League after Frank Lampard took umbrage at Bielsa sending a member of his staff to watch Derby train. Leeds were later fined £200,000, a penalty Bielsa paid himself.

Such was the antipathy towards United from the Derby camp that feelings continue to run high ahead of rivalries being resumed tomorrow.

Jansson, a slight doubt with an ankle problem, said: “First of all there has been two good football games, especially from our side.

“We played two good games and it will be the same. Two good games between us with good football and high intensity, probably a lot of goals and Leeds as the winners again.

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“Everything else outside of that, there is no meaning in talking about it. They hate us probably and we hate them. That is how we go into the game. It will be nice for the spectators to see two good football games.”

Jansson, who played in the 2-0 victory over the Rams at Elland Road that immediately followed ‘Spygate’ did later clarify his ‘hate’ comment. But the Swedish international remains adamant tensions will be running high.

“Hate is not the right word,” he added. “That is just me, as a football supporter, maybe using the wrong word. Maybe because of everything that happened, and we beat them twice and we are Leeds.

“Leeds are Leeds in England. Hate is maybe not the right word but you understand what I mean.”

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‘Spygate’, of course, is not the only time Leeds and their head coach have hit the headlines.

Just 12 days ago United became embroiled in another major row after Mateusz Klich had opened the scoring against Aston Villa in controversial fashion.

Tyler Roberts, who will miss the trip to Derby with an ankle problem, shaped as if to kick the ball out to allow the prone Jonathan Kodija to receive treatment for a calf injury only to play on. Klich scored a few seconds later.

As chaos reigned and players from both sides clashed in the aftermath of the goal, Bielsa took the decision to allow Villa to equalise uncontested.

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To ensure there is no confusion in the play-offs Bielsa has told his players not to kick the ball out if a Derby player goes down injured and, instead, leave any decision about halting play to the officials.

“We reached a common decision with the players and we decided to adapt 100 per cent to the rules,” said Bielsa, who is also without the suspended Patrick Bamford.

“We understand that if we have a player down then the opponents do not have to play the ball off the pitch. We also think that if a player from the opponent is down we should not interrupt the play and kick the ball out.

“We all know that the person who has to take this decision is the referee. We don’t want to disappoint anyone, our fans, their fans or the other team because it is what the rules say.

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“The rules say the person who has to make the decision is the referee and this has nothing to do with the Aston Villa situation because we feinted that we were going to put the ball out and didn’t. We just want to find a solution to this doubt.

“We will tell the referee and the head coach and captain of Derby that we will behave like this, which is by the rules.

“If we have a man down we won’t ask them to put the ball out. It would be unjustified to do this because it is the referee’s decision.”

Bielsa was widely praised for his sportsmanship after allowing Albert Adomah to equalise for Villa.

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Jansson, however, came in for some criticism after disobeying Bielsa’s orders and attempting a tackle on Adomah.

“We talked after the game and he understood me and I understood him,” said the Swedish defender. “When I play football you cannot talk to me.

“I was so into it and I play with so much emotion that sometimes I make wrong or right decisions. In that decision I just handled it how I thought was right.

“When you look back maybe I should have let them score, I don’t know. That is how I am. I am doing what I think is right.”

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Jansson, who expects to be fit to face Derby, added: “It was a funny situation because there was a big argument (after the goal), but I was not there because I had walked over the bench to (John) Terry and Dean Smith to say sorry. The first thing they said to me was, ‘Now you have to let us score’.

“I said, ‘I can’t – that is not me, sorry but I can’t’. One minute later I had to do it. When it happened in my head I was like, ‘I can’t let them score. I can be sorry, but I can’t let them score.’

“There was so much going on in those five or six minutes, but afterwards, of course I should have let them score.”

Bielsa’s pledge: Page 24