Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson has revealed that playing against current Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic changed his career a few years ago.
Jansson could still face Ibrahimovic this season if both Leeds and Manchester United manage to make it to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, but the defender admits that a performance against his former Sweden team-mate was a turning point in his career a few years ago.
In a pre-season friendly between AC Milan and Malmo a few years ago, the two Swedes came face to face and Jansson believes a tackle on Ibrahimovic during the game changed his career for the better.
Asked about that confrontation, the defender said on a Sky Bet Facebook Q&A: “Everything changed for me at that moment, because I tackled him for a 50-50 ball.
“I gave everything I had and he fell down, but I was standing. After that everything changed as if I can do that on Zlatan, I can do that against anyone.”
relatedNewsStory
However, Jansson quipped that he would not want to face the veteran striker soon as Ibrahimovic might want to settle the score with him for that tackle.
Asked whether he would have liked to face Ibrahimovic in the EFL Cup semi-final, the Swede said: “It would have been good, but maybe not as I think he wants revenge.”
Leeds play Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup.
