Johnson shrugs off pressure

City star honoured to be given Eastlands opportunity

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 13th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Johnson shrugs off pressure

Johnson: Expected to shine

I felt I had to leave to progress. I could have stayed at Middlesbrough, signed a new contract, had a baby and not really bettered myself.

Adam Johnson
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Adam Johnson insists he does not feel under any undue pressure as a young Englishman at Manchester City.

The tricky winger joined the Blues from Middlesbrough during the January transfer window, bringing with him a reputation for unlocking defences.

Having shone for Boro in the Championship, and forged quite a reputation with the England Under 21s, he was expected to hit the ground running at Eastlands.

Expectations are always high for promising homegrown talents and it is clear that Johnson also has a lofty billing to live up to.

The 22-year-old playmaker is unfazed, though, by the demands placed upon him by others, claiming he has only ever concerned himself with doing the best he can.

"It doesn't happen too often, so I was obviously honoured to be given the opportunity to come here," Johnson told skysports.com when pressed on the issue of joining a top Premier League club at such a young age.

"I only had four months left on my contract at Middlesbrough, though, so it was a good offer for them.

"I always wanted to play in the Premier League as much as possible and I thought this was the best time to do it.

"I don't think of things in terms of pressure. I just try to focus on my own game and take each step at a time."

Progress

Johnson's game, which is based on getting at defenders, would appear to be better suited to the open spaces of the Premier League than the cut and thrust of life in the Championship.

He agrees in part and admits he always hoped that he would get the opportunity to clamber back into the top tier sooner rather than later, having suffered relegation with Boro in 2009.

"I learnt everything at Middlesbrough, like how to improve my defending and stuff like that. And being part of a team that is relegated helps you to learn. Everything stood me in good stead to come to City," Johnson said.

"I felt I had to leave to progress though. I could have stayed at Middlesbrough, signed a new contract, had a baby and not really bettered myself.

"But Gordon Strachan was excellent with me, he understood everything I wanted to do. He knew I was doing well and understood that I wanted to move on and progress."

He added: "I scored plenty of goals in the Championship, so hopefully I can do that for City. I think you have to adapt your game. The Premier League is a lot faster and you have to be fitter. But I think you have to find the right balance between the two levels."

Adam Johnson was speaking at the launch of FIFA 10 Ultimate Team - a new strategic online game mode available on Xbox Live and PSN. For more info go to http://www.easports.co.uk/fifa

Comments (1)

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Alan Murray (Manchester City fan) says...

great interview from a talented young player

Posted 12:02 13th March 2010
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