Pontus Jansson tried to prevent Aston Villa fair play goal and argued with Bielsa!

Pontus Jansson almost caused another argument amongst the Leeds and Aston Villa benches after trying to prevent Albert Adomah from levelling the scores after the Leeds manager had ordered his defence to let them scor. Leeds had taken the lead in controversial fashion.

Mateus Klich gave the hosts the lead in the 72nd minute after Aston Villa stopped after one of their players was down injured. Leeds did not put the ball out of play and tempers flared both on the pitch and on the touchline between Marcelo Bielsa and John Terry. Two yellow cards were dished out by Stuart Attwell and Villa got a red card before the Leeds manager ordered his team to let Villa equalise. Not all of the players agreed though. 

 

April 28, 2019

After a four  minute delay, Adomah ran through unopposed by most of the Leeds players, but Pontus Jansson tried to tackle him. After Adomah scored, the Swede had to be pulled away by various teammates and was seen gesticulating at the bench. Television cameras also spotted him shouting at Bielsa on the bench as he was angry with the manager's decision. 

After the game, Bielsa had no regrets saying that "English football is known for sportsmanship" and fully defended his decision to allow Aston Villa to equalise. In a later press conference, according to a local journalist, Bielsa said that "Jansson didn't want to obey my indication." He also said his authority had been undermined and that he had lost respect from a player. He later tried to play it down calling it an "ironic response."

 

April 28, 2019

What is clear is that Leeds' decision to allow their visitors to equalise was far from unanimous. 

 

April 28, 2019