Pontus Jansson has lifted the lid on Leeds United’s rivalry with Derby County and clarified his comments the two clubs hate each other.
There has been a feisty relationship between the two for many years, which has only been stoked up by this season’s Spygate saga.
The frosty relationship between the two managers is one correlated in the sets of supporters.
That ill feeling is felt on the pitch too, as Jansson revealed there will be no love lost between the sides on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the clash at Pride Park, the Swedish defender said: “First of all, there have been two good football games, especially from our side.
“We play good football against them. It will be the same, two more games between us, with good football and high intensity and probably a lot of goals.
"Probably, Leeds is the winners again. Everything else, but that, there is meaning talking about it.
“They hate us, probably, and we hate them, that’s how we go into the game. It will be nice, even for the spectators, to see two good football games.”
After being pressed on whether the hate for one another goes beyond the football field, Jansson was quick to clarify his comments.
“No, hate is not the right word,” he said.
“That’s just me as a football supporter, maybe using the wrong word. I mean, because of everything that happened, that we beat them twice and because that we are Leeds and Leeds are Leeds in England so maybe hates not the right word, but I think you understand what I mean.”
There will certainly be an electric, never-say-die atmosphere at Pride Park on Saturday, which will no doubt transmit onto the field, with so much at stake.
Leeds will be hoping for a repeat performance against the Rams, after completing the double over their play-off opponents this campaign.
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A 4-1 win at Pride Park in August, many moons ago, was followed up by a 2-0 win in January, the birth of Spygate, as many will recall.
