Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has responded to the criticism by the club’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, following the Nigerian’s penalty miss during the club’s 3-1 loss at home to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
Lookman, making his return from injury in the UCL playoff second leg at the Gewiss Stadium after five weeks on the sidelines, was a half-time substitute and scored within a minute of the second half as Atalanta looked to come back from a 3-0 half-time deficit.
Atalanta were then awarded a penalty with 20 minutes to go, but Lookman’s spot-kick was kept out by Brugge goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, as the Belgian side held off pressure from the Serie A side to complete a 5-2 aggregate win.
Lookman’s penalty miss prompted an unexpected reaction from Gasperini at full-time. “Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal,” Gasperini said at the end of the match.
ALSO READ: ‘One of the worst I’ve seen’ – Gasperini Slams Lookman after Atalanta Crash Out of Champions League
The veteran tactician added, “He took the ball despite [Mateo] Retegui and [Charles] De Ketelaere available to take it. I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
Gasperini’s comments prompted Lookman to release a statement: “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.”
Lookman went on to reveal that the club’s designated penalty taker (Retegui) had told him he could take the penalty, contrary to Gasperini’s impression that Lookman had taken the penalty without considering the option of leaving it for Retegui or Charles De Ketelaere.
“During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so,” Lookman said in his statement on Wednesday.
Ademola Lookman Replies Atalanta Boss Gasperini’s Comments after Champions League Exit
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Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has responded to the criticism by the club’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, following the Nigerian’s penalty miss during the club’s 3-1 loss at home to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
Lookman, making his return from injury in the UCL playoff second leg at the Gewiss Stadium after five weeks on the sidelines, was a half-time substitute and scored within a minute of the second half as Atalanta looked to come back from a 3-0 half-time deficit.
Atalanta were then awarded a penalty with 20 minutes to go, but Lookman’s spot-kick was kept out by Brugge goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, as the Belgian side held off pressure from the Serie A side to complete a 5-2 aggregate win.
Lookman’s penalty miss prompted an unexpected reaction from Gasperini at full-time. “Lookman is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen. He wanted to take the penalty after scoring a goal,” Gasperini said at the end of the match.
ALSO READ: ‘One of the worst I’ve seen’ – Gasperini Slams Lookman after Atalanta Crash Out of Champions League
The veteran tactician added, “He took the ball despite [Mateo] Retegui and [Charles] De Ketelaere available to take it. I didn’t like what Lookman did.”
Gasperini’s comments prompted Lookman to release a statement: “Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo.”
Lookman went on to reveal that the club’s designated penalty taker (Retegui) had told him he could take the penalty, contrary to Gasperini’s impression that Lookman had taken the penalty without considering the option of leaving it for Retegui or Charles De Ketelaere.
“During the match the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty; and to support the team I took responsibility in the moment to do so,” Lookman said in his statement on Wednesday.
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