Brennan Johnson reveals why Tottenham planned fast start against Bodo/Glimt
Brennan Johnson has now praised Tottenham Hotspur’s fast start in their 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie, expressing satisfaction over the Lilywhites’ two-goal cushion.
Playing in a European semi-final is not something Tottenham do frequently, and you would have to go all the way back to 2019 for the last time Spurs appeared in one.
On Thursday night, though, when Spurs welcomed Bodo/Glimt to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ange Postecoglou’s men put in a very assured and composed display in the first leg of their semi-final clash.
Tottenham secured a 3-1 win, but the manner in which they started the game was what set the tone for what was to come.
Brennan Johnson struck in the opening seconds to give the Lilywhites an early lead, before James Maddison and Dominic Solanke added the second and third goals respectively.
Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson hails fast start
Tottenham Hotspur will now travel to Norway with a comfortable cushion, with the Lilywhites needing only to avoid defeat to book a place in the finals at San Mames.
Brennan Johnson, Tottenham’s top scorer this season, was left pleased with Spurs’ performance on the night, praising their fast start and the two-goal advantage they now carry into the second leg.
He told TNT Sport: “We are pleased. If before the game you had said that we would have a two-goal cushion, then we would be happy with it.
“They are a tough team. There is a reason why they have beaten other teams in the past. Disappointed to concede at the end, but we are happy with the performance.
“I did not realise it was that early. They are a team that build in confidence with time to play so we knew that we had to be onto them straight away. Getting the early goal really set the tempo and I thought we started really well.
“Maddison has scored a few goals like that this season and makes the run really well. Porro has the quality to find that pass and when it comes off, it works really well. So when they get the timing right and Madders can finish it off, it is a really well-worked goal.”
Spurs must stay focused in Bodo/Glimt second leg
While Spurs have a foot in the finals, a victory is far from guaranteed, as comebacks are a staple of European knockout ties.
The Lilywhites will need to guard against complacency when they go visiting the Aspmyra Stadion, a ground Bodo/Glimt have not lost at in their knockout games this season.
However, it is the north London club’s tie to lose and if anything, based on their form in Europe this season, one would expect that Ange Postecoglou’s men will see it through.
Should they get past Glimt, then an all-English final awaits, as Manchester United, just like Spurs, managed a victory in their first-leg semi-final tie against Athletic Bilbao, with Amorim’s men beating the Spanish outfit 3-0 at San Mames.
The post Brennan Johnson reveals why Tottenham planned fast start against Bodo/Glimt appeared first on Spurs Web.