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Pontus Jansson is the kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. He’ll tell you exactly what he’s thinking when asked in interviews, when he celebrates in front of the crowd at Elland Road, you can feel his passion for the club.
Jansson was quoted by the Swedish media during the last international break that he wants “talks” with the management at Leeds about the direction of the club. In yesterday’s press conference, he clarified those statements.
"These four months have been the toughest of my football career." Pontus Jansson spells out the strain of 2018 - but says he expects to be at Leeds United next season:https://t.co/5ByyHct6mU
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) April 5, 2018
For sure. I signed a five-year deal and I said it since the first day here: this club changed my life and changed my football career. I’m proud and happy with that.
You never know in football but what I said in Sweden, you use Google Translate to understand it so maybe something is not correct. That’s a normal reaction for me. Of course I feel frustrated, of course I want to speak to people in this club about what the goals are. I said I had a dream to play in the Premier League but I also said that the dream for me is playing with Leeds. That’s what I said from day one.
The only thing I said is that I want to talk to people around this club and just hear them being positive, to see what they want. I also said that this club belongs in the Premier League
Jansson was shipped out Torino, having had problems with injury and it seemed like the Italian club just wanted him gone. Jansson has been the heart-and-soul of the Leeds team since he came to the club, and his extension earlier this year was perhaps the best extension that Victor Orta did.
From what he said here, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be off in the summer, but we all thought that about Chris Wood as well.
On to the links.
Leeds United Links
Leeds have been linked with a teenage midfielder from Hartlepool. [Through It All Together]
Mike Thornton has some of the best writing about Leeds and finances on the internet. He takes on the question if Leeds should shell out the cash and go for promotion this season. You should really read his stuff. [MikeThornton.xyz]
Paul Heckingbottom is concerned about the number of “soft-tissue” injuries at Leeds. [Yorkshire Evening Post]
England and English Football Links
Arsenal took care of business in Russia, winning 4-1 over CSKA Moscow in the Europa League. [The Short Fuse]
More trouble for Liverpool fans as police want video footage of the bus attack and UEFA is looking into disciplinary procedures against the club. [BBC.com]
Unbelievably sad news, as former Chelsea U23 & Crawley Town manager Dermot Drummy reportedly took his own life. [BBC.com]
Lincoln City are set to go to Wembley, for the first time in their history, to play for the Checkatrade Trophy against Shrewsbury Town. [BBC.com]
World Football Links
Atlético Madrid breezed past Sporting CP in the Europa League, winning 2-0. [Into The Calderon]
Lazio beat RB Salzburg 4-2 in Rome. [Football-Italia.net]