Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swansea City manager left the midfielder out of his matchday squad prompting further rumours that he had played his last game for the club ahead of a move elsewhere with Wigan appearing to be the hot favourites.
But if that was to be the case then Paulo was remaining tight lipped when he talked to the Evening Post after the game. Sousa re-iterated his view that he would like Leon to sign the new contract offered and remain at the club although that is starting to look less and less likely.
“I don’t know if Leon will still be here when the window closes because in football there are a lot of surprises,” said Sousa.
“I don’t like these decisions to be made during the course of the season because of the instability they cause, but it happens in football and we have to deal with it.
“Everyone has tried to the best to give the player good things and to help him play good football at our club while he has a contract with us.
“The player, as he has said in the press, has been completely committed and, while he is here, we want him to play his best football.
“Everybody knows he can start to talk to other clubs, these are the rules, but what we want is a player completely focused on us and on our identity.
“It’s normal that the 100 per cent focus is not there if you are talking to other clubs.
“I’ve said a thousand times that he is important,” he continued.
“He has not played 10 games for Swansea, he has played more than 300.
He has a big link to the club and to the city and I hope he can stay.
“We are close to the end of the window, and hopefully after that we can cool down. I have not spoken to Roberto Martinez, but you will have to ask the chairman if he has
“It’s disrespectful to talk about Leon — Mark Gower did not start, other players did not start.
“I look at what the player has done in training and in games and then I make my decision. It’s my decision and I take responsibility.”
