“I was a worse finisher before coming to Tottenham, but now I’m one of the best PL poachers – Thanks to Spurs coaches”
Brennan Johnson reveals that he has put in a lot of work in the training ground to arrive at the right place and the right time to finish off chances, explaining how the coaches at Spurs have helped him improve his finishing.
While most Spurs fans have been frustrated at Brennan Johnson’s tendency to blow hot and cold at times, the winger’s output in the final third has been elite.
The 23-year-old has found the back of the net 13 times across all competitions to go with six assists, which is especially impressive when considering that he has had spells on the sidelines due to injury.
The Wales international has now said that the improved numbers in the final third are not down to luck, explaining the kind of work he has done in the training grounds at Hotspur Way.
Brennan Johnson reveals Tottenham training secrets
The Tottenham Hotspur man is not the kind of winger one would expect to beat players and unlock defences, but time and again, he shows how deadly he can be when given space and time inside the box.
Johnson has now revealed the kind of modifications he has made to his finishing, especially when getting on the end of crosses.
When asked to give specifics on what he has worked on with the coaches at Tottenham, he told Football.London: “One would be, for example, the first goal on the weekend (against Southampton): noticing that Dom [Solanke] made the run to the front post, and being in position when the ball gets cut back on my left foot.
“I think something like that — I had been told not to try and hit the ball too hard because it’s coming at quite a pace. So, when it’s on my left foot, not thinking about it too much, just trying to get a good contact on it.
“Also, there’s a lot of work that goes into trying to hit the ball into the ground, trying to make it hard for the goalkeepers. That’s another tip that I’ve got this season.
“So, little things like this to keep in mind. I know, in a game, it’s kind of hard to think about all the things that you’ve been told, but little things like this, if you keep practising it kind of sticks.”
Johnson makes an admission about arriving at the back post
Most of Johnson’s goals have come via low crosses into the box, with the Welshman always being there at the far post to finish off chances.
The former Nottingham Forest man revealed that while it is partly down to the tactical work on the training pitch, he also follows his instincts on where the ball is going to drop in the box.
When asked about arriving at the far post, Johnson responded: “It suits me just because the players we have, the profiles, a lot of fast players, so when the ball gets crossed, there tends to be a lot of space for the ball to go all the way across the pitch and it’s just about me gambling on what position to be in. More times than not this season I’ve been in the right position.
“Work does go on on the training ground, there’s a lot of coaches who do a lot of work with me which I’m really appreciative of. There is work that goes into it. But it’s quite instinctive as well, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
