Jansson has been ruled out for three weeks with a knee injury and will miss Sweden’s upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers. It has now left a void at centre-back that must be filled.
United are not blessed with options in that area, as it is common knowledge that Bielsa likes to make the most of a smaller squad. The most likely replacement is surely Gaetano Berardi, who has suffered a significant time on the sidelines with injuries this season, but having been on the bench and made one substitute appearance in recent weeks, he looks set to come in.
Ahead of Bielsa’s choice, we can assess the importance of both players to the Whites…
The former Swiss international was then sidelined for nearly a month with a knee issue and managed just 27 minutes on his second game back before suffering a hamstring injury.
Berardi is now available again at the ideal time given Jansson’s injury. His calmness in possession and ability to build from the back played an important role in the unbeaten start to the season and will be even more pivotal in the latter stage of the season.
Upon regaining his spot in the side due to Berardi’s injury, Jansson has been a regular at the heart of the defence. His dominance in the air and in duels cannot be understated, as well as his developed ability on the ball to aid in the build-up.
The 28-year-old’s performances alongside Cooper, keeping the opposing strikers quiet on the whole, is a huge reason as to why United find themselves in the upper echelons of the table.
Berardi’s importance in the early stage of the season was there for all to see and he will have to quickly regain that level of performance for the back-end of the season.
However, Jansson has been a pivotal figure throughout the season and when he does return from injury, he will surely find his way back into the starting side and play a vastly important role in the outcome of the last eight games of the season.
