Brentford head up to Yorkshire on Sunday to take on Leeds United… lets hope Pontus Jansson has packed his magic hat for the trip. Beesotted’s Tim Street looks ahead to the match, and the return of the former Leeds defender to Elland Road.
Just some of the headlines written over the last few days ahead of what’s not even the first return to Elland Road for the Brentford captain, and former Leeds skipper, since he left Yorkshire for London.
“Leaving Leeds United was hard, says Brentford captain”
“Pontus Jansson fell in love with Leeds, says Brentford boss”
“£5.5m player says he’s at a smaller club after Leeds exit”
“Pontus Jansson opens up in Leeds United departure after putting his whole soul into club”
‘Pontus Jansson makes Leeds United admission ahead of Elland Road return”
His first return – and his only game against his former employers since leaving – came just four games into Jansson’s Brentford career, a 1-0 defeat for the Bees in August 2019 barely a month after becoming one of Brentford’s most unexpected transfers of all time.
To outside observers, Jansson had, at the time, been the heartbeat of the Leeds team for three years – and even though it became clear in the summer of 2019 that, following a fall out with Marcelo Biesla, he would be leaving the club, not many expected Brentford to be his destination.
But TW8 was indeed his next stop – one of a cluster of signings that summer which signalled Brentford’s intention to make the shift from being an established top half Championship side to one making a push for promotion to the Premier League – the next step in the journey for a club which would have hardly dared dream it just a generation before.
He made an immediate impact, instantly becoming the kind of leader that Brentford had, for the most part, lacked over the previous few seasons to guide their undoubtedly talented players through the tough times. And when it was revealed in mid-January that he had picked up a hip injury which would most likely keep him sidelined for the rest of that season, it was a massive blow to Brentford’s promotion hopes. Julian Jeanvier replaced him at centre-back, with Henrik Dalsgaard sometimes switching from right-back. But, with no disrespect meant to either, the Bees were really missing their new leader and won only three of their next 11 matches.
That was until covid came along and delayed the season by more than three months, meaning that by the time it was deemed safe enough for football to return, Jansson was back in the fold and at the centre of a side which won eight straight games to put themselves on the verge of glory. Unfortunately, we all know how that season ended, and Jansson was not the only one to go missing as Brentford’s Premier League dream went up in smoke. Even more galling for the Swede, his former club finally held their nerve and made the step back up to the top flight.
Onto the new season, and a familiar story for Jansson as the new year once more ushered in a spell on the sidelines, an ankle injury this time putting him out for two-and-a-half months. This time, and with no disrespect to Jansson, he wasn’t missed half as much. Credit must go to both Dalsgaard, for taking on the leadership role, and Mads Bech Sorensen, for coming into the back four and playing an important role while still developing as a player. The loan signing of Winston Reid from West Ham also proved to be inspired and brought some more experience into the Brentford back line at a crucial time.
Once more, Jansson returned for the run-in, and this time he came back looking like a man on a mission. He played a key role in finally getting Brentford to the promised land, and since making the step up he has not looked out of place either. Playing in back five seems to have helped a player noted more for his power than his pace, while retiring from international football in the summer has probably done him the world of good too. So far, so good on the injury front too – and just as well, with Kristoffer Ajer’s absence set to last at least another few weeks.
Jansson started as he meant to go on with an immense display in the opening day win over Arsenal and was an integral part of a Brentford back line which conceded only two goals in their first five Premier League games, also showing superb leadership in a difficult encounter at Wolves. He was excellent once more against Liverpool, and when Chelsea came to town in mid-October, Jansson put in perhaps his best performance in a Bees shirt as Brentford gave their illustrious West London neighbours one hell of a scare.
Naturally, for anyone stepping up a level, there have been not-so-good games too – and the whole Brentford back line has struggled to adapt to the loss of both Ajer and David Raya – but Jansson was back to his best against Everton last weekend. All in all, an immense signing who has helped changed the mentality at the club, and who has stepped up as well as anyone to the top flight challenge.
But back to those headlines. As I said before, it’s not even Jansson’s first return to Elland Road, but such is the fascination with characters like him, the interest levels are naturally ramped up. Arguably, it will be a bigger deal for him than that first return – the club he so desperately wanted to get to the Premier League with versus the one he finally did make it with – meeting in the top flight rather than the Championship.
Naturally, considering the worldwide attention commanded by a club like Leeds, headlines like those are skewed towards his love for them, how big a club they are and how hard it was for him to leave. Leeds fans delighted in reminding Brentford fans of such things after Jansson made the move, after they won promotion while Brentford fell at the final hurdle, and when Jansson returned to watch Leeds from the Elland Road stands when not in action for the Bees.
Such things are water off a duck’s back to Bees fans though. We know we’re a smaller club than Leeds and always will be. We spent years being told the same by fans of most clubs in the Championship, never mind the Premier League. It only made it all the more enjoyable when we played such teams off the park or took three points off them, and when this ‘bus stop in Hounslow’ took it place amongst the millionaires and billionaires of the Premier League.
And so what if he still loves Leeds? It’s the kind of character he is, and I admire a player who gives their heart and soul to any club they play for. You can see it in Jansson’s love for Malmo too. I’m sure you’ll also see it when Jansson becomes an ex-Brentford player, and he looks back on his journey with a club he finally achieved his top flight dream with. And if we’re not first in his affections, does it really matter? You only have to talk to some of the ex-players either still involved with the club or who come back routinely to hear about what a special club we are.
I do think Jansson “gets it” though. In a recent interview, he said: “The fanbase we have are the reason why we are here. The semi-final and the final last year, how they stepped up and helped us, and some of the games we’ve had at home this year have been unbelievable. Sometimes you don’t have to have a big fanbase and a stadium with 50,000 – as long as they come with passion and heart, it’s enough”. Wise words indeed, and one which sums up what the Brentford experience is all about at the moment.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Jansson will have secured a special place in the hearts of Bees fans if, as expected, he leaves to head home to Sweden next summer. If he goes, he’ll be doing his damnest to ensure he does so with Brentford still a Premier League side. And if he finally breaks his scoring duck between now and then, it will be one of the biggest celebrations we’ve seen in recent times. Not least if he manages to pull one out of the bag tomorrow!
Tim Street
