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Tony Dorigo compares Leeds defender with ex-player Pontus Jansson
Tony Dorigo has made a comparison between Leeds United star Robin Koch and ex-player Pontus Jansson.
Leeds signed Germany international Koch in the recent transfer window from Bundesliga side Freiburg and he’s been thrown straight in at the deep end by manager Marcelo Bielsa.
The 24-year-old defender has played every minute of the club’s opening five Premier League games so far, where the club has earned seven points.
He’s a powerhouse centre-back that started slowly by conceding two penalties in the opening two matches, but he’s beginning to look an assured figure in defence and has needed to step up following an injury to captain Liam Cooper.
Dorigo has suggested that Koch is bringing a similar physicality to former player Jansson, as well as pointing out he’s got the ball-playing abilities as well.
Brentford centre-back Jansson, 29, enjoyed a two-year spell at Elland Road where he became a fan favourite for his no-nonsense approach and he’s currently still playing in the Championship.
“Us defenders we love to play and we’re told to play in this [Leeds] side. Robin Koch you have to get the ball, don’t pass it sidewards try and find those angled passes and he’s relishing in that,” Dorigo told
“It’s the attacking threat as well, if you think back to Pontus Jansson, that I think is what he gave us especially. When he went we missed that a little bit, we’ve got it back in spades now in our own box, attacking box, Koch can certainly attack the ball. Anytime there is a big striker up against him he relishes that as well.”
TBR’s View:
Jansson was a popular defender that wore his heart on his sleeve and a comparison to Koch makes sense, but the latter looks like he’s a level above with the potential to be a far greater player.
Despite playing just a handful of games in the Premier League, Koch is already looking right at home in the heart of the Leeds defence and it’s easy to picture him becoming a real leader on the pitch as time progresses.
He’s got all the qualities of a top modern centre-back with his pace, strength and passing abilities, as well as being a physical presence in the air that does add something extra from set-pieces.