Dominic Solanke reveals how he evaluates his own performances

Dominic Solanke reveals if he evaluates his performances based on the goals he scores as strikers typically do, or if other performance indicators are just as important to him.

Dominic Solanke the best pressing striker in the PL

Solanke is in a league of his own when it comes to the number of pressures and final-third ball recoveries he posts per 90 minutes.

Ahead of gameweek 11, the Tottenham striker topped the table in the league for pressures in the attacking third, with 240 to his name, while no other player in the division had even registered 175 pressures after ten matches (Statistician Jonny Blain).

These numbers are particularly astounding when one takes into account the fact that the 26-year-old missed two league games due to injury this season.

Solanke’a confession about his pressing

Solanke has now admitted that closing down the opposition defenders and goalkeeper has always been one of his biggest strengths, and it is an attribute that comes to the fore in Tottenham‘s system.

When asked about his pressing, the striker told Men in Blazers: “It’s definitely an important part of my game, something I’ve done my whole life really, but I think, especially in football, you’re always working, especially when you’re coming up against top teams, and it definitely helps. The way that we play here it’s really important with the way we press. So it’s something that’s a given for me.”

However, the former Cherries star confessed that like most forwards, he lives and breathes goals.

When asked how he judges his own performances, Solanke said: “There’s a lot of different ways. I think mainly we get a win. That’s always the most important thing in football, but personally, scoring is the main thing that will make me feel good after the game. As long as I help the team in any way, as long as we’re getting the win, I think I’m going to be happy after.”

Solanke’s footballing idol

Solanke came through the Chelsea academy and the striker unsurprisingly named Blues legend Didier Drogba as the centre-forward he idolised when growing up.

When asked about his admiration for the Ivorian, the Tottenham man responded: “He was definitely my main idol back then, watching all the games, going to the home games at the stadium and he was obviously the main guy, scoring all the goals.

“Me being a striker. He was someone I always looked up to. So to have the chance to train and play with him and just see him every day, see how he trains and stuff. It was really good for my career.”

Drogba was a big-game player and someone who tormented Spurs a few times in London derbies, with Solanke confessing that he admired the former Chelsea man’s temperament.

When asked what lessons he took from the former Premier League superstar, the Englishman said: “I think just the way that he handled all the pressure of it. Obviously, he was the guy that got the goals, his confidence and his aura.”

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