Brennan Johnson: Tottenham need a new plan to beat Manchester United in Europa League final | OneFootball

Spurs have already beaten their Bilbao opponents three times this season

The pair meet in Bilbao on Wednesday night for a chance to save their dismal league campaigns and Johnson says Spurs cannot fall back on their previous successes this term.

Brennan Johnson scoring against Manchester United earlier this season

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"Going into the final, we can’t rely on the fact that we’ve beaten them a few times this season," said Johnson, who is expected to start the game.

"I think it’s about now coming up with a plan because each time we’ve beaten them has been down to different reasons.

"I feel like we’ve done good work preparing for Man United so now it’s about coming up with how we want to win, things we want to do, things we want to stop them from doing so it’s a new opportunity. We want to prepare and be as confident as we can."

The league season has been historically poor for Spurs, who are 17th in the table after losing 21 of their 37 matches so far - a new club record for a 38-game season.

It has been a different story in Europe, however, and Postecoglou's side produced impressive and steely displays in the knockout wins over AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt en route to the final.

So the quarter-final, the semi-final ... unbelievable victories, real togetherness, it just makes us stronger and more together

Brennan Johnson

"This competition's been a real positive drive for us," Johnson said. "When times have been tough and we’ve had to go to some tough places in Europe and we’ve got some really good results, it brings the squad together a massive amount.

"So the quarter-final, the semi-final - these games have been massive for us. Unbelievable victories, real togetherness. And yeah, it just makes us stronger and more together."

Johnson goes into the final as Spurs' top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions, having made finishing at the back post into a trademark.

This was best demonstrated by his opening goal in the win at Old Trafford after a brilliant run from Micky van de Ven.

Asked his secret, Johnson said: "Hard work, I think. It’s easy when things aren’t going well to come up with excuses but for me it was just about trying to nail down the stuff that I could do. Put myself in a position to score.

Brennan Johnson training ahead of Bilbao final

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"So, a lot of work, a bit of luck when you get into those positions but just trying to train as hard as I can and be in the position.

"It’s just knowing who I am playing with, knowing the type of crosses I am going to get.

"Almost studying other players in the team, seeing what they like to do, what type of crosses and trying to be in the right position because I feel like previously I wasn’t so this season I made it clear that I had to be in the right positions to try and score.