NEW YORK ā Sean Johnson has heard the talk, that he will struggle to play under Patrick Vieiraās system at New York City FC because heās not good at playing the ball with his feet.
Fake news, says Johnson.
āThe common misconception is because a player over the course of his career doesnāt play a certain way that they donāt have the ability to do it,ā Johnson said at the teamās media day in Manhattan Thursday. āThe coaches Iāve had in the past didnāt necessary want to play that playing style. You do what the manager asks.ā
The 27-year-old said heās played out of the back when he was called up multiple times by former US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
āJurgen Klinsmann was the first coach that I had who really stressed playing out of the back,ā he said. āI was called in multiple times to his camps and if I wasnāt able to do that, I wouldnāt have been a part of that.ā
The secret to successfully playing out of the back is being comfortable doing so and thatās increasing day by day for Johnson on the training pitch.
After a conversation with NYCFC assistant coach Rob Vartughian, Vieira was confident Johnson would fit in well in his system.
āWe looked at his background, we really scouted him and we knew he was capable of doing it,ā Vieira said. āItās just about how can we make it easier for him. Itās my job and the staff to find ways to help him to understand what weāre trying to do.ā
For his first six years in Major League Soccer, Johnson knew just one team ā the Chicago Fire. But in the span of a few rollercoaster hours on Dec. 11, Johnson was traded to Atlanta and then to NYCFC.
Johnson, who hails from the Atlanta area, doesnāt look back at what could have been with Atlanta United, though he is pleased with the buzz there, citing the 55,000 fans for the clubās opening match.
Rather, he said heās thrilled to be part of NYCFC, who are MLS Cup contenders after making the playoffs in their second season.
āThe business and the nature of professional sports is something you have to deal with as a player,ā Johnson said. āFor me, I donāt look too much at the past. Iām really happy with how things have turned out.ā
Johnson lauded NYCFCās āincredible resources,ā from the coaching and technical staff, who have helped his adjustment to a new club, and from City Football Group's commitment to āgiving us what we need to go on and be successful,ā as one reason heās happy to be in the Big Apple.
āItās a big difference from what I experienced in Chicago,ā Johnson said.
So, too, is playing for a potential contender. Johnson started all 176 games he played in Chicago, but was in net for just one playoff game in his seven years with the Fire.
Johnson believes playing for a winner in NYCFC could be the launching point to getting back into the USMNT fold.
āIt all starts with building a successful foundation with the club and having success as a team,ā Johnson said. āItās not something Iāve had over the past six years as far as team success.ā